STRESS AWARENESS MONTH: EXPERT SHARES FIVE WAYS BETTER SLEEP CAN BOOST WELLBEING

A SLEEP EXPERT says better rest is the key to reducing levels of stress – and outlined five ways it can boost wellbeing.
Martin Seeley, from MattressNextDay, says improving sleep can be the “first step” in the path towards an improved lifestyle.
Mr Seeley was speaking out as part of Stress Awareness Month which takes place all through April.
“Statistics show over nine in ten Brits have experienced high or extreme levels of stress at some point in the last year,” he said.
“The average person in the UK typically feels stressed about ten days a month, but as many as one in nine say they are stressed every single day. When we sleep, our body naturally reduces the levels of these stress hormones, promoting a state of calm and rest.
“Well rested people have been shown to stay calmer and react less strongly to negative situations the day after a good night’s sleep. With additional worries over price hikes for things like energy bills and tax, April could well be an anxious month.

Here, Martin outlines how sleep can help reduce stress and anxiety

Emotional Regulation
Not only does emotion impact sleep, but there is also evidence that sleep plays a key role in regulating emotion. Sleep is crucial for processing and consolidating our emotions including those relating to fear. It’s during sleep that our brain replays these memories and helps the emotional response to these experiences in the future. This makes us less reactive to stressful situations and more resilient.

Lowering Cortisol Levels
Cortisol is the ‘stress hormone’ which, along with adrenaline, regulates our ‘fight or flight’ response. It’s released when we are stressed and a lack of sleep causes cortisol in particular to remain high. It can lead to a higher level of glucose in our blood, which is why sleep is also important in preventing conditions like diabetes. With quality sleep, cortisol levels drop, helping you feel more calm and rested.

Brain Function
We all know we aren’t our best when we’re tired. Things which could wash over us usually cause us upset or anxiety. This is because sleep allows the brain to process and consolidate memories, which can help reduce anxiety and improve overall mental well-being.

Improved Cognitive Function
Just as we’re less adept, we’re also more likely to snap or make impulse decisions. This is because, like our muscles, our brain needs time to repair. Without enough good quality sleep the brain struggles to function properly. Because they don’t get enough time to rest, neurons in the brain become overworked just like muscles, and cannot perform at their optimum. This affects our ability to process information leading to difficulty concentrating, making decisions and managing stress.

Poor Attention Span
Not getting enough sleep has a similar effect on our brain to being drunk, slowing down thinking and reaction time. Poor sleep also reduces a person’s attention making it more difficult to learn and process. This can have a cumulative effect on stress, particularly when it affects work or studying.