The COVID-19 virus hasnβt just been causing people stress during the day; it has also given many horrible nightmares ruining sleep. Recently a website was created called βI Dream of COVIDβ that asks people to submit dreams and especially their strangest and scariest ones.
Sleep experts say there are four primary tips to help relieve the stress from the day to help you get a good nightβs sleep. If you follow them, you should be able to sleep comfortably and without βnightmares.β
The 4 Tips
- Structure Your DayΒ β Sticking to a routine will help your body stay in sync with the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythms are mental, physical, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. These rhythms respond primarily to light and darkness in an organismβs environment. Being awake during the day and sleeping at night is a prime example of a circadian rhythm.
- Keep Your Sleep and Your Workspaces SeparateΒ β Keep your work and sleeping locations physically separate to help your brain mentally distinguish between them. Keeping the two separate will help you save work stress from carrying over into your dreams.
- Skip Late-Night βDoomscrollingβ SessionsΒ β Doomscrolling is a new term that describes scrolling through depressing news about the crisis and pandemic. Experts suggest not doing it right before bed for the same reason it isnβt always the best to watch a horror movie just before sleep.
- Turn Off Technology At Least 1 Hour Before BedΒ β You have heard this repeatedly; melatonin helps regulate your bodyβs internal clock. Melatonin is a hormone made naturally by your body. It is produced by the pineal gland in the brain and found in other areas such as the eyes, bone marrow, and the gut. It is often called the βsleep hormone,β as high levels can help you fall asleep. The blue light from your phone, your iPad, or TV will interfere with that and can make your brain think it is still daytime.