Stress is part and parcel of modern life. Work, finances, relationships, deadlines, all contribute to stress in one way or another.
Stress and sleep are inversely correlated: when one increases, the other decreases. Too much stress results in a change in cortisol and melatonin levels in your body, which leads to high alertness, impairing sleep. This can gradually pave the way to an imbalanced circadian rhythm – the body clock regulating your sleep/wake cycle.
How To De-Stress?
Sound sleep is the best remedy for stress. It can bring you back on track, elevate your mood and improve your attention span. You become more rational and emotionally stable. But when you are stressed out, a restful sleep seems to be a distant dream. You may be on your bed but tossing and turning only!
Here are the five ways to achieve better sleep to reduce stress:
- Reserve your bedroom for sleeping: Maintain a clean, sleep-inducing bedroom. Never let any of your work-related articles like files, laptops, etc. be in and around your bedroom. Losing sight of stressful things helps you fall asleep faster.
- Engage in light reading: The quickest way to drift off to sleep while in bed is by reading a book. If you feel like sleep is not coming your way, grab a book. Focusing on the book will help you slip into sleep easily.
- Change your mattress: If you are too stressed out, then get a new mattress. According to the 2009 study*, “Changes in back pain, sleep quality and perceived stress after introduction of new bedding systems” sleeping on a new mattress reduces stress levels. The study was conducted on 59 men and women, who were made to sleep on their old mattress for 28 consecutive days. They were later asked to sleep for another 28 days on a new mattress and the result was amazing. They reported that by sleeping on a new mattress they were able to achieve a considerable reduction in their stress levels.
- Find time to unwind: Before hitting the bed, it is always beneficial to sit back and listen to some soothing music. This helps you cleanse your mind of all the accumulated stress of the day. Cleansing meditation also helps.
- Get ready for a good night’s sleep: Preparing for sleep is just as important as the sleep itself. Sleep experts always recommend a warm shower before bed. Follow it up with some relaxation massages and stretching exercises and sure, you will be sleeping like a baby in no time.
We wish you a relaxing and comfortable sleep on your bed!
* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2697581/#__sec11title
