The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed everyone’s life.
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The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating, and it has changed our routine activities. It has brought changes in the way we work, travel, sleep, etc. Most of our academic activities are put to a halt. No one is going to deny that the COVID-19 pandemic has been so stressful. Enduring stress may have lasting consequences. Stress does have a negative impact on sleep. Here is some information about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected or can affect your sleep.
1) Prolonged Screen Time
There are studies showing that increased screen time can decrease the time you sleep. This is because the blue light emitted from these screens stops our brains from producing melatonin (the hormone that controls the sleep-wake cycle). Ever since the pandemic, every one of us has been scrolling for news updates and some binge-worthy shows that can take our minds off the pandemic stress. Using electronic gadgets before bed can be one of the reasons for deprived sleep. Now in this traumatic time, we are all doing it more than ever.
2) Increased Stress
Stress has created a heavy toll on your mental health. You may be worried about the uncertainty in life. Thinking about school closures, working from home, homeschooling your kids, or being anxious about what the future holds. The more stressed you are, your body produces more amount of stress hormone Cortisol which can keep you awake, leading to deprived sleep.
3) Isolation and Disruption In Daily Activities
National lockdowns, quarantine, and social distancing can keep you away from your loved ones. Being confined at home can also trigger stress and create a lot of sleep issues. Working from home has made it hard for you to establish a clear separation between your work time and your relaxation time. The normal pattern to your day has been lost, and you start going to bed and waking up at different times. This has disrupted your natural sleep-wake cycle.
4) Unhealthy Habits
In this uncertain pandemic time, you may be drinking too much alcohol than usual to take off your stress and boredom. Alcohol interferes with your sleep cycle, making you get up multiple times during the night and disturbing your sleep.
Though sleep issues are a common problem, this uncertainty and the turmoil created by the pandemic have made it even worse. The situation may be challenging now, but it is all going to get better someday. So try to cope with your fears, stress, and anxiety and follow all the safety guidelines like washing your hands regularly, wearing masks, and social distancing to move into faster recovery.
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