Ever find yourself yawning throughout the day? Nodding off at your desk?
It could be because of poor sleep habits.
Lack of sufficient and effective sleep can negatively affect your “physical and mental health… [including] one’s ability to perform their day to day tasks at home and at work”, states Dr Ryan Harvey, Deputy Clinical Director at House Call Doctor.
Indeed, in some cases, sleep deprivation “can be likened to being under the influence of alcohol where thought processes are impaired as well as reaction times and motor skills”, he adds.
Poor alertness due to lack of proper or sufficient sleep in Australians causes 10,000 serious workplace injuries, 25,000 serious road crash injuries, and costs the nation’s economy five billion dollars annually, according to research conducted by the Sleep Health Foundation.
“The amount of sleep needed differs from person to person. Some may need only four hours sleep a night where others may require 10 hours. The average amount of sleep for an adult is about seven hours a day,” says Dr Harvey.
Consider his tips for a better night’s rest:
- Form a pre-sleep routine – “Go to bed to sleep, not for eating or watching television. It is good to try and settle down before going to sleep. Avoid big meals before sleep and avoid difficult work that requires concentration. Having a warm milk drink can help as you go to bed.”
- Avoid stimulants – “Alcohol and other drugs can cause many people to have disturbed or improper sleep. A single dose of caffeine or cup of coffee will affect our sleep. Caffeine concentration peaks about an hour after ingesting, so if you have caffeine directly before bed you might find it harder to have a proper night sleep … If you are experiencing poor sleep … it is best to avoid caffeinated drinks in the evening and late afternoon.”
- Separate yourself from screens – “Looking at screens at night often involves concentration or stimulation … [giving] us poorer quality of sleep. The white light emitted from most screens at night can also affect our hormones [e.g. melatonin] released in the brain that tell us it is night time and therefore time to sleep … This again leads to improper sleep.”
- Create a positive sleep environment – “Your bedroom environment should be a good place for sleep i.e. attractive, quiet, dark and relaxing.
If you’re still struggling to sleep after adopting these tips, the Sleep Health Foundation recommends leaving the room and doing something else until you feel tired before returning, to maintain the connection between the bedroom and sleep.
Alternatively, you may wish to consult an appropriate health professional to rule out the possibility of any sleep disorders.
Sleep Awareness Week, running from July 3 to 9, is an annual event run by the Australian Sleep Health Foundation, which aims to inform Australians about the importance of sufficient and restorative sleep. To learn more about this event, click here.
For inpidual advice on sleep health, consult an appropriate health professional.