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The pandemic has presented a whole array of new challenges for our internal clocks. Most of us are spending more time at home with less fixed schedules.
If your circadian rhythm is upset because of lack of sleep, it can have a knock-on effect for the other systems in your body. This is why sleep is so important for our overall health and mood!
Rates of emotional distress have soared since the start of the pandemic, and this has a big impact on sleep.
Research shows that loneliness can decrease both the quality and quantity of our sleep.
The long-term risks of continuing like this include obesity, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and neurodegenerative disease.
If you’re home alone, try finding virtual ways to connect with people regularly, particularly those who make you laugh or whom you feel really understand you.
Social isolation and the resulting loneliness has a big effect on our mental health and our sleep. Many of us are living without the in-person contact that provides us with enjoyment, comfort, and connection.
To fix this desynchronization, reclaim a schedule that suits your chronotype. For example, if you’re more energetic in the morning, then try to sleep earlier and wake up earlier.
Secondly, find a way to create social connections safely. This can mean making the time to have a quiet dinner or a walk with your partner if you are isolated with them.
Research shows that many people are staying awake later and spending more time on their phones before bed. If this sounds like you, it may be helpful to reduce the time spent on electronic devices at night and reconnect with your natural rhythm.
Studies also show that the quality of our friendships predict how well we sleep, so it seems like it’s a two-way street.
There are many online support groups available for those who are looking to connect and reduce the emotional strain of this tough period.
The change in routine that most of us have experienced this year can have a serious effect on our circadian rhythms.
Our circadian rhythms act like an internal clock, regulating our sleep/wake cycles as well as many other systems in our bodies. They also manage our immune systems, appetite, metabolism, and hormone production.
The right schedule for you is not necessarily the one you had before the pandemic. It may be a new one that suits you better than the one you had then and the one you have now!
You might also find a way to volunteer virtually, or in a safe in-person setting. This is a great way to give you a sense of community and an extra boost from helping others.
Our internal clocks are affected by the same systems they regulate, so they can be thrown off by changes to sleep or diet.
These rates are even higher within the community of healthcare workers, with as many as 45-50% experiencing anxiety or depression.
Don’t suffer in silence. Recognize that your mental health and sleep are connected. Taking steps to improve your sleep quality and routine will help your mental health in the short term and in the long run.
It can be difficult to get more or better sleep when you’re suffering from psychological distress. If you’re really struggling, then it may be a good moment to reach out for some extra support.
Virtual mental health services are widely available now, so you can connect with a therapist for some advice from the comfort of your home.
That means it’s a two-step process to reduce the impact of social isolation on your sleep. Firstly, try to use social isolation as a way to prioritize sleeping!
The unprecedented levels of stress this year are causing widespread problems with sleep and mental health. As the months pass, researchers are learning more and more about how this situation is affecting us and what we can do to help ourselves. The importance of a good night’s sleep is well understood now.
A lack of quality rest has a significant impact on our physical and emotional health. In a time when we want our immune systems to be strong and our minds calm, let’s take a moment to focus on sleep and how it can help us cope. Click through the gallery to learn more.
Understanding and dealing with sleep disruption during the pandemic
Rates of insomnia and sleep problems are spiking
HEALTH Circadian rhythm
The unprecedented levels of stress this year are causing widespread problems with sleep and mental health. As the months pass, researchers are learning more and more about how this situation is affecting us and what we can do to help ourselves. The importance of a good night’s sleep is well understood now.
A lack of quality rest has a significant impact on our physical and emotional health. In a time when we want our immune systems to be strong and our minds calm, let’s take a moment to focus on sleep and how it can help us cope. Click through the gallery to learn more.