Sleep is that blissful moment in the night where no responsibilities, worries, and fears can reach you. The only thing your body is focused on is rest and relaxation. It’s a time when your mind and body can recharge and power up for the upcoming day. Sleep is an essential human act that keeps us healthy and sane. Lack of sleep and the symptoms that arise from that take a negative toll on your mental health. Without proper sleep you can be left feeling sluggish, irritable, unfocused, and mentally impaired.

To battle these side effects, Harvard Health suggests, “For most healthy adults, guidelines suggest at least seven hours of slumber.” Easier said than done, but with set goals this can be achieved. The absence of slumber can have detrimental effects on your daily life. Sleep deprivation can and will make you more sensitive to negative stimuli. It decreases your tolerance for situations that might not have irritated you if you had a full night’s rest. On top of the mood swings, you will feel slow and sluggish. It might take you longer to get through your work or to start a project because your brain is not working at full capacity. It’s fairly common to make all sorts of mistakes when you are tired. You might miss things at work you normally catch, misspell words, call the wrong person etc. Lack of sleep has the potential to not only ruin your day, but also the people around you. If you’re sleep-deprived and in a bad mood, it can rub off on other people and affect their day as well.

It’s important to take care of yourself and sleep for everyone around you, including yourself. There are ways in which a better and longer sleep can be achieved. The most obvious solution to all this would be to go to sleep earlier. Set a time when you put your phone away, turn the TV off, and just focus on lying in bed and closing your eyes — also known as “sleep hygiene.” It might take a while for you to fall asleep, but putting all distractions away gives you a better chance to achieve that. Next, some people have a hard time falling asleep naturally and utlize supplements and vitamins available to help promote sleep. The first line of defense when it comes to falling asleep is usually melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced naturally in your body that helps sleep. When you need an extra bit of help, you can take some melatonin to get that process started. Lastly, creating a nighttime routine can help train your body to realize that sleep is near, and it’s time to start winding down. This routine can include taking a shower, washing your face, drinking a caffeine-free tea, or whatever thing you can do to help unwind (also parts of sleep hygiene). In conclusion, prioritizing a healthy amount of sleep can improve mental health and make your day a more
positive one.

Article written by: Paulina Barker “My name is Paulina Barker and I have a passion for mental health. I obtained my bachelors degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge and am currently in the process of trying to pursue my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. My area of interest has always been eating disorders and body image. I believe everyone deserves to feel worthy and live in harmony with food. I’m one step closer to reaching my goals everyday.”