Guest post generously submitted by Cheryl Conklin

Sleep and mental health are intricately linked. When your sleep suffers, so does your mental well-being. But mental health issues can also make it difficult to get the amount of high-quality sleep you need to feel your best. It’s a vicious cycle that can be tough to break. If you’re looking for ways to sleep better and improve your mental health, a good place to start is by adopting healthy sleep hygiene habits. Here are some resources to help you out!

Get Help for Mental Health Concerns

Mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and ADHD have been shown to cause or worsen sleeping problems.

Working with a trained psychologist like Tristan Abba can help you get to the root of your sleep concerns and improve your mental health from the inside.
Mindfulness meditation may be effective in mediating anxiety and symptoms of depression.
Simply talking to a friend or loved one about your mental concerns can also help.

Practice Healthy Daytime Habits

How you spend your day can have a significant impact on your sleep quality. Healthy habits like exercising and eating clean will improve your sleep and your mental health.

Exercise will improve your sleep by helping you burn off energy and alleviate anxiety.
A clean, well-balanced diet can combat insomnia by ensuring your body has all the nutrients it needs to produce sleep-promoting hormones.

Avoid Stimulating Activities Before Bed

Watching exciting movies, reading stressful emails, or working out right before bed can leave your mind and body too wound up to relax.

Try not to consume alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine in the hours right before bed.
Stay away from digital entertainment that can overstimulate your brain — writing work emails and reading the news included!

Stick to a Regular Sleep Schedule

When you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, your body will get into a rhythm. This makes it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up feeling rested.

Plan to go to bed early enough that you will get at least 7 hours of shuteye before your alarm rings.
Create a bedtime routine that will help you get to bed on time every night.
If you need to make up for missed sleep, don’t sleep in on the weekend. A short afternoon nap can help you recover your energy without disrupting your sleep schedule.

Nothing beats the feeling you get after a good night's sleep. What if you could wake up every morning feeling rested, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the day? Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues or you just want to sleep your way to better health, improving your sleep should be your number one priority!

Sleep deprivation is a common symptom of many different mental disorders. If you want to talk to a professional about your mental health concerns, contact Tristan Abba today.