Mental Health And Sleep Go Hand In Hand

Sleep is one of the most important functions of your body! I'm sure you have heard the statistic that one-third of your life is spent sleeping, and that is a good thing. While your body takes care of you throughout the day, you owe it to your body to take care of it by prioritizing a good night's sleep

Mental Health and Sleep Go Hand in Hand

Lack of sleep can cause various issues, especially regarding your mental health. If you are having trouble falling asleep at night, don’t be discouraged –it is perfectly normal. Sometimes we lay down to sleep and cannot shut our brains off or stop our overwhelming spiral of thoughts.

The good news is, there are tools you can use to tackle this! Snuggle up and read on to learn more about how your sleep habits can improve your mental health

Start Journaling

You may feel as if you cannot turn your brain off at night before bed, especially if you have aspects of your life that are overwhelming you. Your mind may be on overdrive thinking about situations from the day, what you want to do tomorrow, and all of the stress you are undertaking.

If you have never tried journaling before, it can be a huge game changer. There is a known connection between sleep and writing that is easy to understand and try for yourself. The bottom line? What you write down before bed matters.

It is important to find your writing topics and styles for yourself. If you want to journal about your day and your emotions that is perfectly fine and will still have positive effects. However, it has been proven that the best way to journal before bed is to write down your thoughts about tomorrow.

Try outlining your thoughts and plans for tomorrow on paper so you no longer have to think about them while you are trying to sleep. Take on the days one at a time: let yourself enjoy today and prepare for tomorrow in a way that encourages healthy habits.

Grab a Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets can be used for a multitude of different issues including mental health issues, restlessness throughout the night, and sleep quality. A huge benefit of a weighted blanket is that it can help decrease anxiety while helping you fall into a deeper sleep at night. Anxiety is relieved by the blanket’s pressure and weight, which ease tension within your body and make you feel calmer.

Weighted blankets are created in different weights, aesthetics, and materials. Which kind you choose depends on why you are looking to use one. You might be searching for a portable, stylish option – or maybe you want something larger than can cover a king-sized bed.

To see what weighted blanket will be the best fit for you, check out these tips and tricks to get you started. Try to match your unique sleep style – for example, if you tend to sleep hot, you might want a blanket made with breathable fabric like our cooling Tree Napper.

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Treat Your Anxiety

Anxiety is something many people deal with on a daily basis, and it often acts up at night. The psychological effects of sleep deprivation are also linked to stress and depression. Basically, the less you sleep, the harder it will be to confront the mental health issues that you are facing.

The feeling of being overwhelmed by thoughts, your chest tightening, and your mind running laps around you is something that no one wants before bed. This can cause insomnia, which may be correlated to your anxiety or depression, keeping you wide awake.

One way to treat your anxiety is by taking anxiety medication. This can help you feel like you have more control over your anxiety and are less overwhelmed. However, every person is in a unique situation, so make sure to discuss treatment options with a mental health professional to determine the best solution.

Even if you are not diagnosed with anxiety, you can make a plan for dealing with daily stressors. Some useful coping mechanisms for everyday stress include exercising, mindful eating, and reduced caffeine intake. A stress-relieving pillow like our Hugget might be a welcome reminder on your desk or bedside table.

With proper medication and treatment, you can decrease your anxiety throughout the day so your mind is less overwhelmed when it is settling in for the night, causing your mind to feel calm and ready for bed.

Try Meditation

Have you ever woken up in the morning feeling an insane amount of tension in parts of your body? Do you grind your teeth at night or clench your jaw without even realizing it? These can all be signs of anxiety disrupting a peaceful night’s sleep.

One great way to relax before you go to sleep is through meditation. Meditation can be hard to do on your own –maybe try some guided ones and find what really works for your mind and body. There is no wrong way to meditate as long as it is helping you feel relaxed and quiets your mind.

Relaxing your muscles with a guided meditation before bed can change how you sleep as well as how you feel when you wake up. We all want to start our morning with our body feeling rejuvenated and healthy, so remember that sleep affects both your mental and physical health.

Conclusion

Your sleeping habits and your mental health go hand in hand. Due to this, improving your sleep can improve many aspects of your life and even how you feel on a daily basis.

Between journaling, weighted blankets, medication, and meditation, there are tools within reach to tackle a good night’s rest. Find which works best for both your mind and body –no matter what you decide to try, we hope you sleep well!