We all the feeling of waking up after a night of little to no sleep. It’s not good. You might feel groggy, unbalanced and just plain angry. It’s no coincidence that your mind isn’t right when you don’t get quality sleep – it’s actually science. Sleep has a big impact on mood and overall mental health. There’s also a clear link between sleep deprivation and compromised immune systems, risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. In other words, we need sleep for our minds and bodies to function properly.
Why does lack of sleep make us moody?
While you’re sleeping, your body and brain are regarcharging. If you don’t give it time to recharge properly, you could be running on empty. You carry on with your normal activities expecting the same level of focus and energy levels, but your body is still catching up and exerting extra effort to do the things that come more naturally after proper rest.
It’s kind of like when you charge your phone – leaving it charging for a consecutive period of time and then only using it when the battery is at 100% means it will last longer throughout the day, and probably work faster too. If you charge in 15 minute intervals and use it when the battery is still low, it’s probably going to die soon again.
Now our brains are more complex than phone batteries, but the same is true when we don’t get consecutive hours of quality sleep to recharge our own batteries.
What you can do to improve your sleep and your mood
If sleep doesn’t come naturally to you, there are things you can do to make sure you’re giving your body and mind the appropriate rest it needs to function at its best. Here are some tips for getting better sleep consistently:
1. Create a bedtime routine and stick to it
2. Avoid too much caffeine or alcohol
3. Limit naps throughout the day
4. Exercise in the evening, but not too close to bedtime
5. Avoid using your phone at least one hour before bedtime
6. Take a warm bath before bedtime
7. Have decaf tea with chamomile before bed
8. Spray lavender on your pillow and sheets
9. Try CBD oil
10.Plan something to look forward to in the morning to make waking up easier