How’d you sleep last night?
It’s a loaded question for so many people.
My husband won’t answer it without consulting with his Oura Ring app, as if his own experience of the night is meaningless without digital confirmation.
My mother will spend 10 minutes describing the events that begin with a trip to the bathroom and end with both parents watching TV until they both cave and pop a sleep aid that makes them groggy the next day.
How’d I sleep last night? I’ll wait to answer that question. For now, all you need to know is that sleep and I do not get along. At 3am, I can usually be found sulking in bed, silently cursing my husband for slumbering so peacefully. Eventually I’ll just get up—hours before my alarm goes off, when my back hurts too much to lie there anymore—angry at myself and the world, and anxious about taking on the day when I feel so crappy.
It’s hard to face a new day with enthusiasm and a good attitude when you’re completely exhausted. And over time, it can really take a toll.
According to the National Institutes of Health, good sleep is a basic human need and essential for survival, yet 50 to 70 million people suffer from an ongoing sleep disorder. That’s messed up, considering sleep is essential for your brain to work properly and to keep you safe and healthy.
It’s enough to keep you up at night.
So what’s a sleep-deprived person to do to protect their physical and emotional health? Lauren Broch, PhD, a psychologist and sleep specialist at Northwell, has some suggestions. She says to start by evaluating some of the habits you have around sleep:
- Are you drinking too much coffee or alcohol, or taking any meds that might affect sleep? Ideally, you should avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening, and alcohol too close to bedtime.
- Do you have a generally regular sleep and wake time? If not, you should.
- What’s your sleep environment like? Aim for a dark, cool, and quiet place to slumber.
- Do you use electronic devices that can be stimulating and emit blue light? I know that’s a tough one, but try not to do it. If you must, use blue light glasses.
