Sleep is vital to physical and even mental health. It is also one of the factors affecting our immune system. Trying to avoid sleep causes unimaginable harm to our bodies. During this lockdown, the daily routine has changed for many, and this resulted in a disturbed sleep cycle. One who used to sleep at 11 PM is now struggling to get some sleep even at 2 AM. Now, why is the lockdown ruining our sleep cycle to this extent?
Reasons as to why lockdown is disrupting our sleep cycle:
- One of the most popular reasons as to why lockdown is disrupting our sleep cycle is that we are finding it difficult to adjust to a new daily schedule.
- People are not keeping track of time now. That is, a daily routine was created earlier, like dropping kids at school, going to the gym, etc. But now, as no one is keeping track of time, the sleep schedule is affected.
- As almost all workstations, offices and colleges are closed, people tend to oversleep as they have nothing to do. Sleeping more than 8 hours in a day will result in you being wide awake during the night. This harms your body and gives you a nasty dark circle.
- As the news channel is broadcasting constant information about the deaths and other negative aspects of this pandemic, one might be prone to anxiety unconsciously. This takes a toll on your sleeping hours.
Natural ways and guidelines to sleep peacefully during this pandemic:
1. Set up a schedule and stick on to it:
Establishing a routine and following it daily is crucial for getting a good night’s sleep.
The first thing to do is set the alarm and wake up early every morning. Do not hit the snooze button and get back to sleep. Have a fixed time to get every day started.
And during the night, before hopping on your bed, try meditating, light reading, or stretching as this might help you sleep better. If it helps, you can take a long, hot shower before going to bed.
2. Reserve your bed for sleep:
Many experts suggest that the only activity to do on a bed is sleep.
This means that you should never consider your bed as a workstation or a place to eat. This is deemed to be bad for your health and will even make you lazy. Change your sheets, and pillow covers frequently to keep it clean and crisp.
3. Step out for a while:
Even if a lockdown imposed, no one is going to stop you from going to your balcony for fresh sunlight and air. Step out and absorb the sunlight. Go for a short walk on your rooftop.
4. Exercise:
This is one of the most useful methods for getting a good night’s sleep. Try working out within the comfort of your house and start running on the treadmill. If that is not possible, do some basic body workouts like push-ups, squats, jumping Jack, etc. This will get you tired, and you will crash onto the bed as soon as its night.
