If there’s one thing most of us have an abundance of at the moment, it’s time. Time to catch up on sleep, and time to relax … absolute bliss, right?
Why then, do you feel groggy and tired ALL THE TIME? Let’s face it, by now we’ve all settled into our new normal. The daily uniform is loungewear sans make-up, and weekends are now spent baking banana bread and binging on Netflix. You should be feeling and looking like the picture of health, but instead, waking up is a challenge.
Even though our lives have slowed down, symptoms of fatigue are beginning to show. According to Melbourne-based GP Dr Preeya Alexander, you’re not imagining this. Yup, turns out that you’re not the only one either! The logic behind this is the fact that rest is disrupted by stress, and obviously, there is an abundance of that right now. Removing yourself from news apps and the climbing death tolls turns out to be a lot harder than expected.
We are in high-alert state; our brains busily preparing our bodies for dealing with disaster, even if it doesn’t fall into our direct path. The effects of this vigilant state is well known: increased heart rate, pale skin, headaches, tense muscles, etc. Also, the stress of living under lockdown is totally screwing up our sleep patterns. The bad news is that the cause of our stress isn’t going away any time soon and our bodies will remain on high alert, maintaining those uncomfortable physical and neurological effects.
Kicking back is hardly an unproductive activity – it’s a necessity. Research shows that rest is as important to our long-term health as sleep. You might not be able to control exactly when you fall asleep, but you can control when you rest.
We have a few ideas on how to rest intentionally:
- Nap the right way or don’t do it at all. Nap for 30 minutes or take an hour and a half. Take your nap between 1 – 3 p.m. If you take it after 4 p.m. your body will go into a long cycle and you’ll end up feeling like a zombie.
- Get some rays. Seek out some natural light to douse your worries. Take the daily government-sanctioned walk.
- Stare out the window. Have an aromatic cup of herbal tea and give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing.
- Listen to your favourite tunes. And, if you’re not going to bug anyone, sing along. We know you want to.
- Bust a move and experience a reenergizing rush of oxygen.
- Get creative. Try your hand at knitting or get your hands on an adult colouring book.
- Take hot bath, shower, or enjoy a pampering session in your own home – whatever floats your boat.
- Talk to a pal. Even a quick back-and-forth text session can be a lifeline.
Living in a perpetual state of stress isn’t sustainable. Getting quality sleep and rest is one of the best things you can do for your health and wellbeing right now.
So, rest your mind and calm your heart.
Source: wikihow.com, quora.com, elemental.medium.com, sleep.org, wired.co.uk, newshub.co.nz, prospectmagazine.co.za, tvnz.co.nz, entrepreneur.com, greatest com, leysaflores.com, thecut.com, express.co.uk, greatergood.berkely.edu, health.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
