Sleep may seem like a waste of time to some people. Sounds funny right? But yes, certain people think that working round the clock and sleeping less make you productive and wealthy. Well, you know what all work and no play does to Jack. The truth is, we all need sleep whether we accept it or not, it is a known fact our body adjusts to.

Some people would prefer to use their sleep time to answer emails, attend to office work, watch TV, or even surf the internet. However, research shows that you're more likely to succeed at your tasks—and enjoy greater well-being—if you get some serious shuteye. The important thing is for you to know when and how to strike the balance and give yourself a good rest.

Sleep is as important to our health as eating, drinking, and breathing. It allows our bodies to repair and revitalize. Poor sleep is linked to physical problems such as a weakened immune system and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

Sleep and Mental health

Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Sleep deprivation affects your psychological state and mental health and people with mental health problems are more likely to have insomnia or other sleep disorders. Sleep problems are prevalent in people with depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Although the relationship between sleep and mental health is not yet fully understood. Studies over time suggest a good night's rest helps to foster both mental and emotional resilience, while chronic sleep deprivation sets the stage for negative thinking and emotional vulnerability. Poor sleep can increase the risk of poor health, and poor health can make it harder to sleep.

We can all benefit from improving our sleep quality, for many of us; it may simply be a case of making small changes in our lifestyle for us to sleep better. A lot of people suffer from insomnia or other sleep problems, these can affect mood, energy and concentration levels, relationships, and our ability to stay awake and productive at work.

Lack of sleep is said to be a leading cause of health issues including heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, impaired memory, weight gain, and depression. To improve sleep quality for improved mental health, read till the end.


Sleep tips to consider for improved mental wellness

Health check: A healthy body equals a healthy mind, sometimes your inability to sleep may be due to an undiagnosed health problem, so visit a doctor to rule that out today.

Environment: our environment plays a vital role in the quality of sleep we get, a serene environment will yield a quality life and health.

Attitude: Your state of mind determines the quality of sleep you get, if you frequently go to bed worried, chances are you will not fall asleep on time and when you do, and you might be plagued by nightmares or bad dreams.

Lifestyle: What you eat and drink can affect your quality of sleep, stimulants like caffeine should be avoided close to bedtime. Also, heavy and sugary meals can make sleep uncomfortable as alcohol would.

You should exercise: Exercising has been known to help speed up recovery from insomnia and various health conditions (may not necessarily be a rigorous exercise). The result might not be immediate, but 30 minutes to 1 hour of exercise a day will go a long way in improving sleep quality at night.

Make your bed your haven: when in bed, the goal should be sleeping and not overuse your gadgets. Your brain can get accustomed to your bed being a work spot and not a place to sleep. It is advisable to turn off all bright lights to encourage rapid eye movement (REM) which is a crucial stage for quality sleep.

Noted with thanks

Very informative