How Sleep Impacts Your Mental Health

We all know that our sleeping habits, much like our eating, can affect our physical health – but did you know it affects our mental health just the same?

Sleep and mental health are probably closer interlinked than you might think; ill mental health can prevent us from getting restful sleep, whilst poor sleep can, in turn, exacerbate symptoms relating to our mental health. This is why it’s important to not only be aware of our sleeping habits, but to also practice and encourage healthy routines.

By neglecting a sleeping routine that reflects our activity throughout the day, we can easily slip into a cycle of poor sleeping habits and poor mental health.

To put it simply: you know when you wake up too early, and you feel groggy and irritable? Well, lack of sleep also works the same way to cause us to feel worry. As I’m sure we all know (all too well), with worry, comes anxiety, and with anxiety … well, you know the rest.

I know that personally, my anxieties can keep me up at night. My mind can race, my heart flutter, and chest becomes heavy, and before I know it, the room is too hot, my pillow is too flat, and I realise I forgot to clock out at work this afternoon. I’ve found that the best way to get restful sleep, is when I put my phone down, read a chapter of my latest book, and reaffirm myself of the good the day has brought. I also find it helpful to plan my days ahead of time, as to prevent myself from falling into the endless loop of ‘what if’s?’ that anxiety can bring.

Let’s get into some of the facts:

Poor sleeping habits can lead to a lack of:

• Concentration

And an increase in:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Feelings of loneliness

So, how do we avoid run ins with these issues?

First, it’s important to understand why we’re lacking sleep in the first place. It can be beneficial to consider factors such as:

• External stressors
• Medications
• Health conditions (both physical and mental)
• Sleep environment

Once we define where these issues stem from, we can begin to put steps in place to work around them.

For example, you could start by:

• Establishing a pre-bed routine
• Practice self-care
• Limit screen time before bed

When we finally commit to practicing good sleep hygiene, we take that extra step towards overcoming our anxieties, and eventually overcoming the battle between our minds and a good nights sleep.

So, next time your head is about to hit the pillow, consider what preventions you have undertaken to ensure a restful night.

Have you written in your diary, recited your day’s affirmations, spent some time grounding yourself?

Every little helps when it comes to our sleep.

Rest well, and be well.