January is that month that many of us say feels as though it goes on forever.
It’s cold, it’s still dark way too early, no-one’s got any money, and still somehow we’re all expected to get onboard with ‘new year, new me.’
It’s understandably a difficult month for many conscious of their mental health.
Sleep is a factor that affects this significantly. Getting enough sleep is a major factor in how our moods regulate and how our metabolism functions. IT might also be important to acknowledge that research into the field suggests that people may need more sleep during the dark, cold winter months than they do during the summer, just to maintain their usual lifestyle and how they feel on an average day.
A few sleepless nights are usually nothing to worry about, but it can become an issue if a lack of sleep starts to affect your daily life. You can learn more about signs you might be sleep deprived, common symptoms of insomnia and if poor sleep hygiene or sleep habits could be the reason from our NHS.
If someone cannot get to sleep or stay asleep for long enough to feel refreshed, they might have insomnia, a sleep disorder that can last for months or even years.
Changing your sleeping habits often helps with this, and other sleep issues. For example, going to bed earlier, rather than waiting until you’re over-tired; reducing or eliminating screen-time in the hours before sleeping; or changing your sleeping environment, can all be positive changes.
A healthy adult usually needs around 7 to 9 hours of sleep. However, age, health and personal circumstances affect how much sleep we need, plus some people naturally sleep more than others. Teenagers, children and babies need more sleep because they are still growing, but that varies too, with a new-born baby sleeping anywhere between 8 to 16 hours.
Some people are naturally lighter sleepers or take longer to get to sleep while others might sleep badly because of anxiety, worry over stressful events or other life challenges.
Check out this information from the NHS for more information and advice on maintaining good sleep hygiene, and look after your mental and physical health this January.