Sleep: The Unsung Hero of Mental Health

There are so many things in life that are out of our control.

I find it helpful to manage the things I CAN control when I start feeling overwhelmed.

One of the things I neglected most of my adult life was the quality of my sleep.

I worked the night shift for most of my broadcasting career. I stayed up late, slept late, and then relied on either caffeine, sleeping pills or beer, to wake me up or help me relax.

I've mentioned in other columns that years of unhealthy living finally caught up with me, manifesting in an autoimmune disease.

My sleep schedule was one of the major contributing factors to my illness, and yet I know I'm not alone in neglecting a good "sleep hygiene practice." (Eye roll, yes, it's a THING).

I'd venture a guess that most in the Western world aren't getting enough sleep, and aren't getting high quality sleep.

Why is this important? Sleep is much more than rest. Important things happen for both our physical and mental well-being while we sleep:

-inflammation is reduced
-our immune system is boosted
-our nervous system relaxes
-beneficial growth and healing hormones are released
-stress hormones are lowered

If you don't get quality sleep, the quality of these processes decline, and the quality of your physical and mental health suffers.

The ONLY way to optimize and maximize your sleep is by practicing the dreaded "sleep hygiene." There are many ways to improve your sleep hygiene, but some of the practices include things like:

-Setting a consistent time for being in bed and waking up
-Banishing screen time or electronics for a set period before bed (I know, I know!)
-Regulating the temperature and light in your bedroom for sleep
-Not eating too close to bedtime
-Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, bed yoga, and my personal favorite sleep hypnosis tracks

I know what you're thinking. "Great, now I have to work at SLEEPING too?"

I'm not going to lie, it DOES feel like work at first. It takes a while for your body to acclimate and you will have many a sleepless night, before your sleep, mood and health improves.

It will be worth it, I promise!