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Do this when you wake up at 3am

It’s normal to wake up during the night, we all do it several times. Usually we don’t remember them because not only are they short, we also just roll over and slip back into sleep.

However, when you find yourself lying in bed around 3am or the witching hour, as some call it, unable to get back to sleep, quiet quickly your mind starts to get busy with thinking. Racing from one thought to the next with no end in sight, your mind can feel like washing machine stuck in the spinning cycle. Then there is this strong feeling of anxiety in your tummy or chest that suddenly pings up. Your heart is pounding loud and fast. You can’t stop tossing and turning wishing to be anywhere but here in your bed.

Can poor sleep make you feel lonely?

In this article I explore the relationship between poor sleep, social isolation and loneliness, its potential causes, and give some pointers on how to improve the situation starting with sleep (naturally).

Sleep is eco-friendly and sustainable

Sustainability and sleep – at a first glance it might not be obvious whether there’s a connection between the two. But on reflection, I think there is one. In fact, there are four specific links I can see.

The Goodness of Sleep

Re-cap: Sleep is the foundation your physical and mental health rest on. Or rather it is healthy sleep – sleep of adequate duration and quality – that supports your health and wellbeing. It plays an active role in enabling your body and mind to function so that you can excel in all areas of life.

Good leaders sleep well

Enlightened leaders know: a great day starts the night before, not from the buzz of that first cup of coffee or tea. However, while caffeine may get you up and moving, especially on cold, dark mornings, it takes a good night’s sleep to properly fire up cognitive functions such as problem-solving and creative thinking. Good sleep is also essential for physical health, as well as for regulating emotions and maintaining resilience in the workplace. Key qualities of any effective, productive and respected boss.

Women sleep differently

While sleep is usually fine for the first half of the menstrual cycle, many women feel more tired during the latter half. Sleep is more disturbed at this stage, and the risk of anxiety and depression is higher. Compared to men, women are more vulnerable to the emotional effects of poor sleep. And we tend to experience more anxiety the day after too! So what’s driving these sleep problems? Biology and much more!

A compassionate approach to poor sleep during the perimenopause
Download my free White Paper Poor Sleep During the Perimenopause here. Learn more about how a compassionate attitude helps you to alleviate your struggle with poor sleep and its daytime consequences.
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Want to make sense of sleep?

I wrote Sleep Sense to share my fascination with sleep with all of you. To help you understand why sleep is important for every single one of us. My aim is to empower you to take steps that are right for you to sleep well.

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Somnia is in London, England.

1 week ago

Sleep is different in Winter. ❄️❄️❄️We’re all aware of our sleep when the clocks go back in Autumn, however this ‘change’ and impact doesn’t stop then. The clocks going back signifies the start of the changing light that we experience during winter months. In an ideal scenario, our sleep patterns would change with the seasons, however, we know that this is not always doable due to modern working patterns and expectations.SAD is a response to the lack of natural light we get during this time of year. 🌅 We need light from the sun to trigger certain things in our bodies and brains and when there is a lack of this, it can mean that we experience certain negative impacts.We may also feel less inclined to participate in social events at this time of year which can lead to an increase in loneliness. Loneliness is not good for our sleep either as we need to feel safe and secure to be able to access quality, restful sleep. So, how can we support ourselves this Winter?☀️ Get as much daylight as possible, as early as possible and throughout the day. An SAD light might help with mood to help you top up on natural light throughout the day.🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Try to make connections throughout the day. While Winter is a natural time to slow down and rest, try not to hide yourself away too much. Interactions with our friends, family or even acquaintances can help us to feel connected and safe.💤 You might want to switch up your routine a little, but still try to keep a morning and evening routine - this will help your body to understand the cues for waking up and winding down consistently. If you have questions or want to chat further about this, either send me a DM or you can email me at kat@drkatsleep.com. ... See MoreSee Less

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