Lockdown fatigue? Getting to sleep when you’ve been stuck inside all day
We’ll all look back on 2020 as being a difficult time of change. Most of the year we’ve been inside our homes, socially distancing and trying to adapt to this strange new world.
Sleeping through the pandemic has also often been tough. Many of us have been on furlough, self-isolating or working from home – and all this sitting around can leave us wide awake at bedtime. Throw in an unhealthy amount of stress and it’s no wonder sleep can suffer.
Here we look at some tips to help you nod off when staying in is the new going out.
Stick to your sleep routine
When you’ve no longer got to drag yourself out of bed for the daily commute it’s tempting to go to bed late and sleep in the next morning. Yes a lie in is nice, but don’t overdo it. Where possible stick to your usual schedule of going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time each day. Not only should this make you feel less tired, but it’ll help your body to regulate blood sugars and avoid high blood pressure.
Loving the new freedom to have an afternoon nap? Again, relax and enjoy – but not for too long. We recommend setting an alarm for around 30 minutes but try not to sleep longer than an hour (or too close to bedtime). Otherwise you may well end up tossing and turning later.
And one more thing – make sure your pillows and bedding are comfortable, clean, and offer just the right level of support for you.
Increase your exposure to sunlight
Sunlight not only does wonders for our mental health but it’s also essential for our body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm.
Our circadian rhythm is dependent on cues in our environment, including feeling sleepy when it’s dark outside. During the day, light sends signals to our brain and other parts of our body that it’s time to wake up and be alert. A lack of daylight has the opposite effect.
If you find yourself sleepy in the day but wide awake at night, try opening a window, standing in the garden with a cuppa or going for a short walk. It will increase your exposure to daylight – and of course get you away from your computer screen or TV.
Wear your brain out
The more you stay active in the day, the more you’ll feel ready to sleep at night. Keeping the brain active is also a great way to prevent lockdown boredom; maybe you could learn a new hobby, take an online course or tackle those jobs in the house you’ve been putting off for ages.
Reduce your stress levels
Anxiety, over-thinking and excessive worrying is like kryptonite for our sleep.
Firstly, we’re keen to point out here that if symptoms of anxiety, depression or other mental health issues are bothering you regularly, it’s important to visit your GP for help. But in the meantime, there are a number of products you can try that might alleviate your racing mind and send you off to restful sleep. A crucial thing here is in trying to relax, slow down your breathing and loosening your muscles. A great way of doing this is enjoying a soak in a warm bath just before bedtime.
Our beautiful Kally Sleep relaxation candles are a beautiful accompaniment to a soak in the suds. Available in three enticing fragrances, they’re made in the UK and burn for a whole 30 hours. Total bliss.
Try some sleep spray
Certain scents have been used for centuries to relax the body and mind and send us off to sleep. This is because they work on the olfactory system which is directly linked to the emotional centre in your brain. Relaxing chemicals are then released which aid natural rest.
We recommend our very own Kally sleep spray in a gorgeous fresh lavender scent. Available in a handy 120ml bottle, simply spray the air above your bed just before you climb in after a hard day. Alongside our relaxing candles it makes an ideal gift too!
Eat sensibly during the day
Yes it’s boring being stuck in and many of us have found ourselves reaching for the chocolate. But if you’ve spent rather a lot of time in the fridge lately, you may have found nodding off tricky. This is because junk food (sadly) doesn’t particularly lend itself to a good night’s sleep.
Try to get in a decent portion of five fruits and veggies a day and at least two litres of water. It’s also worth avoiding over-processed foods that tend to be high in fat, sugar and salt (not to mention calories).
Browse through our fantastic range of sleep aids, pillows and more
The Kally Sleep team understands the importance of a good night’s rest. But we also know that at certain points in our lives all of us will experience sleep deprivation for one reason or another.
Perhaps you’re pregnant or have just welcomed a new baby? Maybe you’ve suffered a sporting injury or are grappling with a bout of anxiety? Whatever it is that keeps you up at night, Kally Sleep has all the answers.
