Anxiety keeping you up every night?
The uncertainty of life due to the coronavirus scare has left all of us shaken. The growing numbers of infected cases every day, the Whatsapp forwards highlighting the instability and inefficiency of the medical set up, increasing work pressure, lack of personal space are some common concerns that are pulling us all down. Quite often we feel pangs of anxiety, not knowing how to calm our nerves.
For example, you are worried about losing your job, and then imagine that if it happens, how will you manage your finances, which snowballs into higher anxieties that get difficult to handle.
Mental health experts worldover are reporting a spike in calls and queries about anxiety, depression, feeling of loneliness and other issues, not only among adults but even the youth. And this sense of instability is disturbing our sleeping patterns too because bedtime is the time when your mind relaxes and focuses on what is worrying you.
02/8Relation between sleep and anxiety
A lot of us do not know that anxiety and sleep are interconnected. If you do not get quality sleep, you feel anxious, and vice versa.
In fact disturbed sleep patterns for an extended period of time can lead to chronic issues as well. So that is something no one should take lightly. We share some ways you can combat this night anxiety…
03/8Keep yourself busy
First and foremost step is to keep yourself busy. Plan your day ahead – from cooking, working out, conference calls. It always helps when you clearly chalk out the things you will be doing in a day. And a tired body tends to sleep faster than a body that has rested enough through the day.
04/8Maintain a sleep wake cycle
Due to lockdown, a lot of people are sleeping late and thus waking up late. This messes up your circadian rhythm leaving it confused about night time and morning time. So make sure you hit the snooze button by 10 pm every night and put an alarm for 6 am.
05/8Eat well
Our diet is the biggest contributor to our life. Be it your energy levels, your concentration and even your sleep. So make sure you are not snacking unnecessarily and focusing on eating whole foods. It will help to include different coloured vegetables in your diet along with healthy fats and protein.
06/8Stay hydrated
You know it already but we will say it again! Make sure you stay hydrated throughout your day and include drinks like chaach, nimbu pani and nariyal pani in your diet. Avoid carbonated drinks as they will mess up your sleep.
07/8Keep your room dark and cool
When you hit the bed, make sure your surroundings are comfortable and your room is not hot. Maintain a temperature of 20-24 degrees and ensure your room is dark. Support yourself with comfortable pillows so you will be well rested.
08/8Meditate before bedtime
The best thing you can do to calm yourself down is meditate. If you don’t know how to meditate, follow meditation apps that take you through guided meditation and work on calming your mind.