By Richard Snowball, General Manager Royal Furniture
- 90% of UAE residents are sleep deprived in one way or another!
- An estimated 30% of residents in the UAE have experienced insomnia (a prolonged inability to get sleep) at some point in their lives!
- Over 65% of people in the UAE suffer from issues triggered by lack of sleep causing metabolism-related issues such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension!
These are some alarming statistics that we are ignoring in our fast-paced life. One sleepless night and we all know the repercussions of it on the next day. Besides the usual effects such as feeling drowsy on our office desk or getting cranky every other minute of the day, lack of sleep can result in fatal consequences such as road accidents or other significant health problems.
Studies have linked poor sleeping habits to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and depression. Although not evident externally, the quantity of quality sleep people get plays a significant role in their mental health. According to a 2020 study, 57% of people in the UAE suffer from at least one mental health issue, with depression and anxiety being the two most common problems. Reports suggest that more than 30% of young adults in the Middle East have mental health struggles, and another report shows 29% of the population in MENA suffers from depression.
While the wisest thing to do is to visit a sleep consultant if you are facing sleep deprivation regularly, there are some other over-looked factors too that can play a crucial role in maintaining a good night’s sleep.
Check out these 4 important factors that could help in getting back your peaceful sleep routine on track –
1. Establish a sleep schedule
Irregular sleep patterns will never allow your body to accustom itself to a routine, which is a significant cause of sleep issues. Therefore, establishing a sleep schedule is essential, which means trying to sleep and wake up around the same time every night and morning. This trains the mind and body to follow a consistent schedule, making it easier to fall asleep and avoid restlessness.
2. Create a relaxing sleep environment
Building a conducive environment with limited distractions and the perfect temperature is vital to get good sleep. Invest in blackout curtains to create a dark, calming environment during any season.
Consider investing in a mattress that maintains optimal body temperature. Many people don’t realise that fluctuating body temperature is a significant cause of sleep disturbance. With the extreme summer temperatures in this region, maintaining a consistent body temperature throughout the night can be challenging. Some mattresses are designed keeping this in mind and made with material and technology that helps maintain the body temperature throughout the night.
3. Keep discomfort at bay
The wrong mattress impacts your sleep and your physical health, causing problems such as stiffness or back aches. Experts always suggest investing in a good mattress as continuously sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause the spine to lose its natural alignment and strain the muscles resulting in back pain.
4. Limit screen time before bed time
Unfortunately, in the current era, everyone has a guilty pleasure… mobile phones and screens! People need to allow their minds to get off the screen and untangle. Studies suggest that phones should be kept aside at least 2 hours before bedtime!
Cultivating positive and healthy sleeping habits isn’t easy overnight, and it may require lifestyle changes for some people. It is crucial to prioritise personal health and well-being before anything else.
There are several benefits of a good quality sleep right from improving your blood sugar levels to preventing obesity and weight gain. In today’s day and age, where even 24 hours are not good enough to tick all the tasks on our to-do list, our sleep schedule is naturally the most neglected aspect of our lives. So today, let’s pledge to give our body the adequate rest it requires for a longer and healthier life.