Beat The Back To School Blues With Better Sleep

February 6, 2018
Whether you find yourself feeling down when the weather turns gray or stressed out because of work or school, your mental health is extremely important.  Did you know that shopping all the mattresses San Diego has available might actually be key to improving both your mental and physical health?  Science is starting to show what many of us know intuitively: the importance of sleep for optimum functioning can’t be overstated.

Anxiety, Depression And Your Bedtime

We all know that eating right and getting some exercise can impact how we feel, but a lot of us fail to recognize exactly how important proper sleep is, especially for those that suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.  Sleep deprivation has what researchers call a “bidirectional” relationship with anxiety–while you might be having trouble sleeping because you feel anxious, you can also actually start to experience anxiety caused by missing sleep.

How To Fix It

If you struggle with anxiety, you already know that anything that increases your anxiety is something to avoid.  The solution, then, seems simple: get your rest.  And while some of us can simply be strict about our bedtime and get all the sleep we need, others have to make some more rigorous changes.  Here are some solutions to think about trying:

  • Get a better mattress – hey, you knew we’d suggest this one, but it’s not just because we’re passionate about great sleep.  If you’re waking up stiff, sore, or unrefreshed, your mattress is likely to blame.  When should a mattress be replaced?  Generally, don’t wait more than ten years.

  • Avoid light from screens – this is one that many of us have been hearing from doctors and scientists, but it can be difficult to put into practice.  If you’re having trouble sleeping, it’s best to avoid using screens for 1-2 hours before bed (and that includes your smartphone).  Can’t get away from your devices?  Use blue-light filtering software or orange-tinted glasses to minimize your exposure.

  • Don’t exercise right before bed – while a lot of people think that a good workout will “tire them out”, exercise causes your body to make chemicals that can keep you awake.  Don’t work out within the last two hours before you get into bed.

  • Sleep in a completely dark, cool room – darkness, and a cooler sleep environment, can aid with falling and staying asleep. Light blocking shades can help if, like most modern folks, you live in a “light polluted” environment.

Your mental health is too important to leave to chance.  You owe it to yourself and your future to get the best sleep you can.  Why wait?  Try some of our tips tonight, and give yourself the gift of a happier tomorrow.

Sources:

Sleep Is The Component You’re Missing For Improved Mental Health – www.huffingtonpost.com

Why Sleep Is The No 1 Most Important Thing  – www.shape.com