Sleep and Mental Health: How a Good Night’s Sleep Can Make a Difference

 As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, taking care of your mental health becomes even more important. We've asked Madison Robertson to share some ideas on what you can do to make you feel your best.

 Winter is approaching fast and being able to get cozy in bed and have a good night's sleep is imperative. While a good cup of coffee always warms the heart, we should not solely rely on it to keep us awake. Sleep is such an important part of our overall health and well-being, and poor sleep can affect all aspects of your life – including increasing your risk of mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Sleep can have a huge impact on your mental health. I am sure you might be able to relate – without a good night sleep you may be left anxious, overwhelmed, tired, and frustrated. While adults are supposed to get 7-9 hours of sleep every night, research shows that approximately 30% of adults in Canada are not reaching these amounts. Having issues with sleeping can cause a lot of stress and anxiety, negatively impacting your mental health.

There are many ways to improve your sleeping habits and support your mental and physical well-being. These include:

1. Have a good mattress that supports your sleeping habits and keeps you comfortable at night.
2. Create a regular sleep schedule and sticking to it as much as possible.
3. Avoid using your phone or technology before bed – try a book or meditation instead.
4. Complete regular daily exercise – it can be a walk, workout, yoga, anything!
5. Avoid going to bed until you are ready to sleep – try to stay away from doing your work in bed.  
6. Avoid having caffeine or coffee in the late afternoon or at night – it will keep you up.

Taking the time to figure out how you can best prepare your bedroom and life to get a good night sleep will have you waking up rested and ready to tackle each day. Sleep is important, and if you focus on making sure you get enough hours each night, it can have amazing positive effects on your mental health.