One of the facts that we can all agree on about life is that it’s demanding. With all the stress and deadlines that we deal with every day, it’s no surprise that many adults in Singapore are sleep-deprived.
But did you know that a lack of quality sleep can affect your productivity?
Sleep deprivation is one of the sources of poor performance and workplace accidents. It also imposes various threats to your health and overall wellness.
While sleeping is meant to happen to us naturally, many still struggle to achieve a quality night’s rest. In honour of the up-coming Sleep Awareness Week®, let’s take some time off our schedules to check our sleep health and talk about some ways to improve it.
What is Sleep Awareness Week®?
Sleep Awareness Week® was established by the National Sleep Foundation in 1998 and is still practised today. The mission of this campaign is to celebrate the importance of sleep health for both the body and mind.
During the week-long event, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) shares research-based information and advice to improve the quality of our nights' rest.
Sleep Awareness Week® is the perfect time to take a step back, evaluate your sleep quality, and help it improve.
This year’s Sleep Awareness Week® will take place from March 12–18, kicking off right after daylight saving time, when most people experience disruptions while sleeping.
How Important is Sleep, Anyway?
In celebration of Sleep Awareness Week®, we’d like to stress the importance of getting enough sleep for your health, mental condition, and overall wellness.
Aside from ensuring that you wake up in a good mood and full of energy, completing hours of deep sleep can also help your brain function, improve your immune system, and support many body functions that only happen during sleep. Sleep for kids and teens can greatly contribute to their growth and development.
Inadequate sleep, on the other hand, can increase your risk of chronic illnesses, including heart, immune, and respiratory problems.
Moreover, sleep deprivation can cause the following:
- Lack of energy
- Mood changes and short-temperedness
- Trouble thinking and concentrating
- Risk of diseases like diabetes, stroke, and heart disease
- Weak immune system
- Risk of accidents
- Effects on your mental health, including depression
It is not true that your body adapts to your lack of sleep. In fact, the more sleep-deprived you become, the more sleep debt your body will accumulate. The time will come when your body itself will require you to pay the sleep debt.
The recommended hours of sleep for adults are at least 7-9 hours, just enough time to restore your body and support the functions that happen during sleep. This will depend on your current sleep quality and health condition.
How Can You Improve Your Sleep Quality?
Are you sleep-deprived? Do you experience some of the effects of sleep deprivation? If lack of sleep is affecting the quality of your life, it’s time to reevaluate how you take care of your sleep health.
In honour of Sleep Awareness Week®, Somnuz would like to share some tips to help you improve your sleep quality. The key here is to give yourself some time to fully relax before going to bed. Your surroundings also play a big role in helping you feel refreshed and rested.
Commit to a Sleeping Diary
Create a week-long sleeping diary to monitor your sleeping patterns. This includes your sleeping and waking hours, the medicine you took before bedtime, or if you exercised or drank coffee before going to sleep.
Writing a sleep diary can help you see any patterns related to your sleep routine and behaviour. This can also help you monitor your hours of rest, if you wake up in the middle of the night often or if you’re having trouble falling asleep.
Did you sleep properly? Have you noticed some habits or problems that may have affected your sleep quality? You can answer these questions when you keep a sleep diary.
Plan Ahead
Healthy sleep should be a natural part of our days, but life happens, and for many adults, quality sleep has become a luxury. If you’ve been suffering from sleep deprivation, it’s time to be more intentional about creating a healthy routine to help your body rest.
How much sleep you need will depend on your age, habits, and current health condition. Generally, adults need at least 7-9 hours of sleep. To achieve this, start following a routine that can help your body relax and be ready to snooze.
Some things that you can do to sleep better are:
- Exercise daily, preferably in the morning
- Get enough daylight in the morning
- Do not consume caffeine or alcohol close to bedtime
- Have a light snack or tea instead of taking heavy meals before sleeping
- Take a warm bath to relax your body and mind
- Turn off your electronics before going to bed
- Make your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet
Assess Your Mattress
If you think you’re already following a healthy sleep routine but can’t still get the Zzzzs that you deserve, check your mattress.
To know if your mattress is to blame, try answering these questions:
- Does your mattress feel lumpy or saggy?
- Does it have holes, poking springs, or other signs of damage?
- Do you wake up with back pain and sore muscles when sleeping on your bed?
- Do you sleep hot or become sweaty on your bed?
- Have you been suffering from allergy symptoms when sleeping on your mattress?
- Do you sleep better away from home?
- Have you been using your mattress for years?
If your mattress feels past its prime, it can hurt your sleep health more than it can benefit your body. In this case, start looking for a new mattress in Singapore to improve the quality of your rest.
Talk to a Sleep Doctor If Necessary
Some sleep problems go beyond your routine or mattress quality. In fact, sleep deprivation can also be linked to several sleep and health conditions that should be addressed by a medical professional.
At Somnuz, we are serious about helping you achieve your best sleep. From offering our best mattresses to giving some essential sleep tips, we always strive to help you get your best night’s rest, not just during Sleep Awareness Week® but for the weeks to come as well.