How to get a better nights sleep during a pandemic

So why is this?

Disruption of Daily Life

Social distancing, school closures, quarantines, working-from-home: all bring profound changes to normal routines for people of all ages and walks of life.

It can be difficult to adjust to a new daily schedule or lack of a schedule.
Keeping track of the time, and even the day, can be hard without typical time “anchors” like dropping kids at school, arriving at the office, attending recurring social events, or going to the gym.
Being stuck at home, especially if it has low levels of natural light
If you are not working at the moment or your weekly hours have been decreased due to COVID-19, you may be tempted to oversleep each morning. Sleeping more than seven to eight hours per night can make waking up on time much more difficult, even if you use an alarm. Oversleepers may also feel groggy, irritable and unfocused throughout the day.

Anxiety and Worry

Naturally, many people fear catching the coronavirus because they don’t want to get sick or infect other people inadvertently.

Most people have close friends or family who are older or in high-risk groups because of preexisting conditions, spurring worries about their health and safety.

Economic concerns are affecting nearly everyone as well. As economic activity stalls and job losses mount, it’s normal to worry about income, savings, and making ends meet.

Depression and Isolation

This crisis can bring about isolation and depression that may be even worse for people who have a loved one who is sick or has passed away from COVID-19. Grief and depression can be exacerbated by isolation at home, and both are known to have the potential to cause significant sleeping problems.

Excess Screen Time

Whether it’s checking the news on your phone, joining a Zoom with family, binge-watching Netflix, or putting in extra hours staring at a computer while working-from-home, social distancing can mean a huge increase in screen time.

Excess screen time, especially later in the evening, can have a detrimental impact on sleep. Not only can it stimulate the brain in ways that make it hard to wind down, but the blue light from screens can suppress the natural production of melatonin, a hormone that the body makes to help us sleep.

Stress-Related Fatigue

The chronic stress of living through a pandemic can lead to a host of physical symptoms, including persistent headaches, memory lapses, and digestive problems. Stress-related fatigue is another common side effect. The Mayo Clinic defines fatigue as “a nearly constant state of weariness that develops over time and reduces your energy, motivation and concentration.” Even if you receive an adequate amount of sleep at night, fatigue can still leave you feeling tired and unmotivated in the morning.

Why do we need sleep?

Sleep empowers an effective immune system. Solid nightly rest strengthens our body’s defenses, and studies have even found that lack of sleep can make some vaccines less effective.
Sleep heightens brain function. Our mind works better when we get good sleep, contributing to complex thinking, learning, memory, and decision-making. For adults and children adapting to work and school at home, good sleep can help them stay sharp.
Sleep enhances mood. Lack of sleep can make a person irritable, drag down their energy level, and cause or worsen feelings of depression.
Sleep improves mental health. Besides depression, studies have found that a lack of sleep is linked with mental health conditions like anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Experts agree that getting consistent, high-quality sleep improves virtually all aspects of health, which is why it is worthy of our attention during the coronavirus pandemic.

I would like to thank the sleep foundation for the above information

So this week I want to introduce you to 3 products that I think could be beneficial to helping you improve your sleep!

The Medisana BBS Bath Spa £179.99

The Medisana BBS Bath Spa really is a very high-quality luxury product that can transform your bath time.

Whether you are interested in using it for treatment of muscle aches, fibromyalgia, a different medical condition or just plain old luxury, we promise you will not be disappointed.
It has regularly appeared on television shopping channels and we have received a number of glowing reviews from our customers.
You can read them in full by clicking the review tab but here is one example:

“Wow, this is amazing! i have tried all the well known brands of bath spa mats, and they were so noisy, it was like having a hoover in the bathroom.. not very pleasant! I highly reccomend this, as it has a whisper quiet air blower , so all you can hear are the bubbles(which are very vigorous, and pound your shoulders , even on the lowest setting). Plus, it has a heat option , which blows warm air out, so the bath doesn’t go instantly cold. Def worth the extra money to get this bath spa…”

2. Medisana MBH Bath Spa With Aroma Dispenser and Remote Control £104.99

Medisana Bath Spa MBH

Relaxing air bubble bath to stimulate blood circulation and to relieve muscles

The bath spa MBH has an automatic heat function and instantly transforms your bath into a cosy jacuzzi, encouraging you to relax and enjoy. It not only relaxes and massages you; it also stimulates your circulation and eases tense muscles. The bath spa can also be used for aromatherapy thanks to the integrated aroma dispenser.

Massage/bubble function with 3 intensity levels
Intensity levels adjustable on the device or via remote control
Automatic switch-off after 20 minutes
Non-skid soft mat for lying comfort
Suitable for any bath
Integrated fragrance dispenser for scented oils
Double safety valve for air hose and device

3. Beurer SE80 High Precision Sleep Expert Sensor

Beurer SE 80 High Precision Sleep EXPERT Sensor

This non-contact sensor offers professional sleep recording in the comfort of your own home. Placed discreetly under the mattress, the device measures and analyses personal sleeping habits. Fall-asleep time and wake-up frequency are recorded along with the actual sleep duration. In addition, heart rate, breathing rate and interruptions in breathing are also recorded.

The compatible Beurer SleepExpert app records the measurements automatically and so enables precise sleep phase analysis, including sleep phase hypnogram. A “Sleep score” display provides simple and user-friendly evaluation of the results. The “Fresh Wake” function helps users to wake up well-rested.

Top features:

– Sleep monitoring to help you identify any issues

– Bluetooth connection to SleepExpert app helps you analyse data

– Wake up function so you’re not disturbed from deep sleep

Sleep monitoring:

Track the quality of your sleep, including restfulness, heart rate, and respiratory rate, with the Beurer SE 80 SleepExpert.

It discreetly sits under your covers and helps you to identify any irregularities in your sleep so you can work to make improvements and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day.

Bluetooth:

The Beurer SE 80 transmits data to your smartphone via a low energy Bluetooth connection, and the data can be read via the SleepExpert app.

You can then analyse the data, which is equivalent to professional labs, and even show it to your GP if you are suffering sleep issues, for further advice.

Wake up:

Waking up in the correct sleep phase is important so you feel rested in the morning as being woken from deep sleep can leave you confused and irritated.
The SleepExpert helps you to wake in the most appropriate phase of your sleep cycle so you’re alert and ready for the day.

Available at HealthCare4All for £149.99