In today’s fast-paced world and like many other persons, burning the midnight candle can easily become a norm for me. These were late nights spent on projects, early mornings of squeezing in a workout and an endless stream of notifications that kept me always watchful. Sleep was something I gave up on believing that I could cope with just a few hours each night. However, as time passed by, the consequences of my sleep deprivation became impossible to overlook: I was constantly exhausted, experienced severe mood swings and lost interest in work.
I didn’t realise how important sleep is for our health until the moment I discovered about SleepWell program at BodyHoliday. This course enlightened me not only about the science behind sleeping but also came with practical approaches to enhance my sleeping patterns. Let me walk you through my journey and the lessons learned.
The Science of Sleep: Is it really important?
In order to understand my experience with the SleepWell program, it is important to first know why sleep is very crucial. The process whereby our bodies mend and rebuild themselves does not occur during sleep which is often thought as mere passivity but it is active. Here are several things that underline why sleep matters most:
Physical fitness
Our bodies rebuild muscles, make proteins and release growth hormones during sleep. That is why athletes and health enthusiasts talk a lot about rest days and good sleep. When we do not get enough sleep, our immune system becomes weak making us more susceptible to diseases. Prolonged lack of sleep is also associated with serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Cognitive processes
Sleep plays an important role in memory consolidation, learning, as well as problem-solving. Our brains process the information that we gather daily during various stages of our sleep especially when it comes to REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Without sufficient sleep, our cognitive abilities are impaired making it difficult to concentrate, make decisions and even be creative.
Mental Health Connection
Sleep is closely linked to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression when one has inadequate time for sleeping. Adequate quality of sleep aids in mood regulation, stress resilience development as well as emotional stability improvement.
Work Performance and Productivity
Ever tried working on little sleep? It’s tough! The fact is that lack of enough sleep affects our response time, attention span or multitasking capabilities for instance if you drive a car while drowsy it’s highly likely that you will cause an accident either by falling asleep at the wheel or reacting slowly towards an imminent collision because your brain would be tired from trying to stay awake instead of focusing on driving safely. For those in high-stakes jobs, like healthcare or transportation, it’s advised that resting is prioritised as this can have serious consequences.
My First Encounter with the SleepWell Programme at BodyHoliday
I was willing to do anything for a good night’s sleep and so, I decided to book myself into BodyHoliday: a popular health resort for perons seeking holistic well-being. I picked out their SleepWell program from all other programs they had because it looked as if they offered solutions based on what causes your sleep problems and I felt like this was made just for me.
What came first was the assessment: Understanding sleep patterns
That’s what the program started with – an all-inclusive test. I had to answer some questions about how often I sleep, what time I go to bed or wake up etc., and then I was given more detailed questionnaires concerning my lifestyle in general plus stress levels specifically related to daily routines before going to bed until morning.
The SleepWell programme offered at BodyHoliday is based on an integrated model that can involve several areas of health and wellbeing.
1. Personalised Sleep Plan
According to the assessment outcomes, the sleep specialist -Dr. Maha drew up an individual sleep schedule for me which included times I was to go to bed and wake up in order to realign my biological clock. To maintain regularity, I ensured that I stuck to this schedule even on weekends.
2. Nutritional Guidance
Food choices we make also play a major role in determining how well we are going to sleep at night. The programme comprised nutritional sessions with dietitians who assisted me in finding foods that enhance sleep. For example, foods containing tryptophan, magnesium, and melatonin are helpful in increasing sleep quality. I increased my consumption of turkey, almonds, and cherries while reducing my coffee and sugar intake particularly before going to bed.
3. Stress Management Techniques
Since stress was one of the root causes of my sleep problems, I had to find ways to deal with stress. This programme provided me with numerous ways of managing stress for instance through mindfulness meditation, yoga and deep breathing. Using these techniques every day made me to relax and get my body ready for sleep.
4. Physical Activity
It is well established that exercise enhances sleep quality, but timing and type of exercise does make a difference. Working out intensively just before bedtime is not very helpful. About exercising, the bodyguards at BodyHoliday advised that I should exercise in the morning or the early afternoon as this would help regulate my energy and help me sleep better at night.
5. Sleep Environment Optimisation
The conditions that surround sleep areas have a great influence on the quality of sleep. My sleep coach also advised me on how to make my bedroom more conducive to sleep. This comprised of getting a good mattress and quality pillows, use of a quiet environment, cool and dark room.
The Pillow Programme
A bonus was the resort’s pillow menu. This complimentary pillow menu featured six different kinds of pillows for the ultimate experience in personalised rest. I made the request to concierge and before I knew it my pillow was ready for the rest of the duration of my stay.
For those curious to know, the options include:
- Quallofil Pillow
- Natural Goose Down & Goose Feathers Pillows
- 100% Goose Down Pillows
- Latex Pillows
- Super Soft Gusseted Memory Foam Deluxe Pillows
- Natural Comfort Pillows
Embracing the Gift of Sleep
Sleep is one of the most effective and involuntary remedies that help to restore our physical and mental strength. The spent time at BodyHoliday, participating in the SleepWell programme became the lifestyle change that helped me to open a new page in understanding sleep. In this case, I learned that regardless of the reasons behind the poor sleep, by practising effective sleep and avoiding the stated habits, one is well on their way to physical, mental and emotional well-being.
If you are experiencing difficulties in falling asleep I encourage you to consider such a non-pharmacological approach as the SleepWell programme at BodyHoliday. It’s important to realise that sleep is not merely a ‘rest’ – it is a fundamental physiological function which plays an integral role in maintaining the proper functioning of our body. Cherish the art of sleep to activate blessings that can turn your life around brilliantly!