Night time’s sleep is the time when our bodies recover and regenerate. A human needs a minimum of 7 hours of quality sleep to ensure optimal mental and physiological function. Quality, uninterrupted sleep plays a crucial role in overall health and mood stability. Acute or chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to many chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cancer, and depression.
In today’s demanding schedules and hectic lifestyles, quality sleep has become a luxury many people simply don’t have. Of course, getting regular, quality sleep can be a challenge when you’re stressed — whether because you have too much on your plate at work or because of a tough personal situation. But if you’re not sleeping well, it can just make things worse: sleep deprivation raises cortisol levels and lowers the production of the happy hormone serotonin, which is crucial for mitigating stress. In this blog post, you’ll find helpful tips on achieving quality sleep in stressful times.
The Important of REM Sleep for Good Health
REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is a valuable and necessary part of a person’s nightly sleep cycle. It allows the brain to process and store information and restore energy levels. REM sleep also plays a vital role in maintaining good physical health.
During REM sleep, the body’s metabolism slows down, blood pressure and heart rate decrease, and breathing becomes more regular. This provides the body with an opportunity to rest and repair any damage that has been done during the day.
REM sleep is essential for good physical health because it helps to:
- Reduce stress levels – When you are stressed, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode. This means your heart rate and blood pressure increase, and you breathe faster. REM sleep helps to reduce these stress levels and allows your body to recover from the day’s events.
- Repair muscles and tissues – During REM sleep, your body produces more protein which helps to repair muscles and tissues. This is especially important if you have exercised during the day, as this can help your muscles to recover more quickly.
- Boost immune system – A good night’s sleep can help to boost your immune system by giving your body time to Produce more white blood cells, which fight infection.
So, if you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, don’t despair! You can do things to improve the quality of your sleep. Start with a high-quality mattress for good sleep.
A soft mattress or an orthopaedic mattress can do wonders for your sleep, especially if you find yourself tossing and turning due to the woes of the day. Check out Livpure mattresses online and find the perfect one for your bed size.
The connection of quality sleep to your mental health
Sleep is critical for our mental health. It allows our brains to recover from the day’s activities and prepare for the next day. Sleep also helps regulate our mood, memory, and learning. During sleep, important chemicals are produced that support brain function and physical health. Some ways that your sleep pattern affects your mental well-being are:
- A lack of sleep can cause irritability, mood swings, anxiety, and depression. It can also affect our memory, concentration, and ability to learn.
- Sleep helps to regulate our mood. When well-rested, we are more likely to be in a good mood and have a positive outlook on life. Conversely, when we are tired and run down, we are more likely to be in a bad mood and have negative views.
- Sleep also plays a critical role in memory and learning. When we sleep, our brains have an opportunity to process and store information from the day. This is why getting a good night’s sleep before a big test or presentation is essential.
What are some ways to get quality sleep in stressful times?
When life’s stressors don’t let you get into a deep slumber, it’s time to open your eyes and change your nighttime routine. There are a few things you can do to get some quality sleep.
- Create a bedtime routine and stick to it as much as possible. This may include winding down for 30 minutes before sleep with relaxation techniques such as reading or stretching.
- Establish a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, even on weekends.
- Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool—temperatures between 15-20 degrees Celsius are ideal for sleeping. If you suffer from body pains, buy a particular mattress for back pain, so the physical pain doesn’t impede your rest.
- Limit exposure to bright screens from televisions, computers, and phones in the hours leading up to bedtime, as the blue light emitted can interfere with sleep.
- Get up and move around during the day. Exercise can help relieve stress and promote better sleep at night.
Call it a day
We all know how important sleep is, but it can be even more crucial to get enough quality shut-eye during times of stress. But you must remember that quality sleep is critical for our physical and mental health, especially during stressful times. So, stick to a healthy sleep schedule paired with a good mattress, and you’ll enjoy the most restful sleep at night.
Although there are a number of things that can interfere with our ability to get quality sleep, there are also some simple things we can do to improve the quality of our sleep. By following the tips in this article, you should be able to get the quality sleep you need to stay healthy and function at your best.