When the concept of home quarantine first came around, nobody really imagined the extent of the problem. Staying at home all day was a dream for some and a nightmare for others. But, our uncalled new routine brought with it problems of its own that no one understood how to deal with. One of the biggest is the disruption of our sleep cycles. The workload increased by a large amount—professional work mixed with house chores and work-from-home resulted in longer working hours. The physical stress mixed with mental stress from the constant negativity pouring in was just a cherry on the cake!
Abnormal changes in sleep cycles are obviously not good. Poor sleep makes way for fatigue, decreased speed at work etc. Under lockdown, it may seem like a task to fix but it’s not as easy as it seems at the time! It only requires you to alter minor lifestyle changes that may seem non-impactful at first, but once you put them into practice, you’ll thank yourself!
Set a routine in place
Before the lockdown, each of us had a routine in place and so poor sleep wasn’t as big of a problem. But ever since the four walls of our home have become our Holy Grail, it has been fairly hard to keep track of how and when we carry out our day-to-day things. For most of us, work-life balance has been disturbed and that has resulted in not doing our usual things on time. It’s highly advisable to have a daily routine in place. This way, your body clock will learn your timings and automatically remind you when it’s your time to sleep and rise
Make sure you exercise
The benefits that come with exercising daily are numerous. And excellent sleep is one of them. Working out during lockdown is all the more important due to our restricted movement and wearisome schedule. Exercise is a natural boost of energy for your body, which in turn leaves you with a feeling of soreness but accomplishment. Tiring your body out—doesn’t require high-intensity workouts—but will help you sleep like a baby at night. Besides helping you keep fit and away from any other bodily problems!
Soak in some sunshine in the morning
Staying in all day long has limited our intake of natural light which is key in regulating our sleep cycle. Exposing ourselves to the sun is essential and helps manage our sleep pattern. It is especially better to soak in the early morning rays that are not harsh on the skin. Basically, exposing yourself to sunlight is a way to stabilise our body’s circadian rhythm—a bodily process of a sleep-wake cycle which follows the body’s physical and mental cycle.
Bedroom as a workspace? Big No-No
Having your bedroom as your work station is not a good idea no matter how much you think it won’t make a difference. Using your ‘resting place’ as your work corner makes it difficult for our brain to differentiate between personal space and workspace. Since you are letting yourself be in the same environment during your working hours and breaks, you won’t stop thinking about your work and vice-versa. For a tension-free and peaceful sleep, ensure that you set up your workspace away from your bedroom.
Take a shower before hitting the hay
Feeling relaxed and clean is an instant way of falling asleep faster. A warm shower before bedtime can help your body wind up for the day and literally relax. The steam from the warm water makes your eyes heavier and leaves you feeling drowsy, especially in the night. Although showering before bedtime is entirely up to you, it is effective in improving the quality of your sleep.
I hope these tips prove helpful in getting your sleep schedule back on track. If you know about more such tips, do drop them in the comments below!
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