'Tired but wired' - applies to so many people I know, including myself.
Sorry for cutting and pasting this article, I seem to be running short on time lately, lol. I thought I'd copy this article before I forget or the link disappears. Apologies once again!!!
ARTICLE:
Is sleep deprivation affecting your health?
We speak to sleep and energy coach Dr Nerina Ramlakhan about the growing number of 'tired and wired' twenty-somethings and get the lowdown on her top sleeping tips. Sleep is one of life's most simple pleasures and is vital for maintaining a healthy mind and body. Leading a hectic non-stop lifestyle endlessly juggling work, family and social commitments can easily take its toll when it is time for lights out. And with so much going on, the mind races excitedly from one thought to another ensuring a restless night's sleep prevails.
Our bodies are remarkably well-equipped to cope with the odd night of bad sleep but for those suffering from chronic insomnia and a nightly deprivation; the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual effects can have a devastating impact on health. Despite preconceptions that sleep deprivation is an older person's health condition, a growing number of high-flying fast-living twenty-somethings are finding that success in work and life can equate with problems sleeping.
Dr Nerina Ramlakhan is a sleep and energy coach, who suffered extensively from sleep deprivation in her twenties due to being 'tired but wired' - feeling well but not sleeping well. This typically affects those who are climbing the career ladder and putting immense pressure on themselves to prove their worth in their profession. Nerina set up her consultancy Equilibrium Solutions almost a decade ago and now works alongside the Capio Nightingale Hospital providing a light at the end of the tunnel for those with chronic sleep problems.
Nerina's clients also include celebrities, musicians, Premier League footballers and stressed-out mums driven to distraction by their new bundle of joy and the sudden long-lasting impact on sleep.
"I was experiencing what I now call 'tired but wired' which typifies many of my twenty-something clients' symptoms," says Nerina. "I was going to bed with so much noise in my head, just not being able to switch off and wind down. I couldn't get to sleep and at times I couldn't stay asleep. It seemed to be the busier I got in my career, the more it seemed to have an impact on my sleep. My high-flying clients strive to push themselves harder and struggle to switch off at home. What I am seeing more of now is technology being abused and just how badly this is impacting on sleep. We have lost the art of boundaries and are just unable to switch off and relax."
Miranda*, 25, sought Nerina's help with a torrid sleep pattern she had developed due to waking one night to find her flat in flames. Two years ago, Miranda had woken to blaring smoke alarms ringing at 3 am, and though unhurt, the shock of waking so traumatically that night was deeply affecting her wellbeing. "After the fire I had difficulty sleeping over a period of 18 months. I had trouble getting to sleep, and would wake at 3 am every morning and be unable to get back to sleep. I felt constantly exhausted and unable to switch my brain off when I tried to sleep. I relied on caffeine to keep me going," says Miranda.
Though the traumatic event deeply affected Miranda and her ability to sleep, Nerina noticed a destructive pattern that had developed - technology had an immeasurable impact on Miranda's sleep. Miranda regularly worked on her laptop in bed at night and her ever faithful BlackBerry was constantly switched on at her side. When Miranda tried to sleep she relied on having the TV playing in the background to help her drift off which in turn meant she woke to switch it off. As Miranda struggled to sleep, she continuously checked the clock every time she woke while worrying about how she would cope the next day in her busy role in advertising.
Among the methods introduced to help Miranda overcome her sleep deprivation problems, a 15-minute power napping technique which Miranda incorporated into her working day helped to re-energise and attune her body to rest. Anything work-related was removed from the bedroom while watching TV was replaced with reading a light, uplifting book. Relaxation, setting boundaries and regaining control of the work/life balance resulted in Miranda successfully sleeping restfully and feeling well again.
Dr Nerina Ramlakhan has some quickfire tips for getting a good night's sleep:
1. Ensure you get the right nutrition
Is sleep deprivation affecting your health?
We speak to sleep and energy coach Dr Nerina Ramlakhan about the growing number of 'tired and wired' twenty-somethings and get the lowdown on her top sleeping tips. Sleep is one of life's most simple pleasures and is vital for maintaining a healthy mind and body. Leading a hectic non-stop lifestyle endlessly juggling work, family and social commitments can easily take its toll when it is time for lights out. And with so much going on, the mind races excitedly from one thought to another ensuring a restless night's sleep prevails.
Our bodies are remarkably well-equipped to cope with the odd night of bad sleep but for those suffering from chronic insomnia and a nightly deprivation; the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual effects can have a devastating impact on health. Despite preconceptions that sleep deprivation is an older person's health condition, a growing number of high-flying fast-living twenty-somethings are finding that success in work and life can equate with problems sleeping.
Dr Nerina Ramlakhan is a sleep and energy coach, who suffered extensively from sleep deprivation in her twenties due to being 'tired but wired' - feeling well but not sleeping well. This typically affects those who are climbing the career ladder and putting immense pressure on themselves to prove their worth in their profession. Nerina set up her consultancy Equilibrium Solutions almost a decade ago and now works alongside the Capio Nightingale Hospital providing a light at the end of the tunnel for those with chronic sleep problems.
Nerina's clients also include celebrities, musicians, Premier League footballers and stressed-out mums driven to distraction by their new bundle of joy and the sudden long-lasting impact on sleep.
"I was experiencing what I now call 'tired but wired' which typifies many of my twenty-something clients' symptoms," says Nerina. "I was going to bed with so much noise in my head, just not being able to switch off and wind down. I couldn't get to sleep and at times I couldn't stay asleep. It seemed to be the busier I got in my career, the more it seemed to have an impact on my sleep. My high-flying clients strive to push themselves harder and struggle to switch off at home. What I am seeing more of now is technology being abused and just how badly this is impacting on sleep. We have lost the art of boundaries and are just unable to switch off and relax."
Miranda*, 25, sought Nerina's help with a torrid sleep pattern she had developed due to waking one night to find her flat in flames. Two years ago, Miranda had woken to blaring smoke alarms ringing at 3 am, and though unhurt, the shock of waking so traumatically that night was deeply affecting her wellbeing. "After the fire I had difficulty sleeping over a period of 18 months. I had trouble getting to sleep, and would wake at 3 am every morning and be unable to get back to sleep. I felt constantly exhausted and unable to switch my brain off when I tried to sleep. I relied on caffeine to keep me going," says Miranda.
Though the traumatic event deeply affected Miranda and her ability to sleep, Nerina noticed a destructive pattern that had developed - technology had an immeasurable impact on Miranda's sleep. Miranda regularly worked on her laptop in bed at night and her ever faithful BlackBerry was constantly switched on at her side. When Miranda tried to sleep she relied on having the TV playing in the background to help her drift off which in turn meant she woke to switch it off. As Miranda struggled to sleep, she continuously checked the clock every time she woke while worrying about how she would cope the next day in her busy role in advertising.
Among the methods introduced to help Miranda overcome her sleep deprivation problems, a 15-minute power napping technique which Miranda incorporated into her working day helped to re-energise and attune her body to rest. Anything work-related was removed from the bedroom while watching TV was replaced with reading a light, uplifting book. Relaxation, setting boundaries and regaining control of the work/life balance resulted in Miranda successfully sleeping restfully and feeling well again.
Dr Nerina Ramlakhan has some quickfire tips for getting a good night's sleep:
1. Ensure you get the right nutrition
Eat regularly and healthily; do not skip breakfast. You should always eat breakfast within 30-45 minutes of getting up as there is a biochemical link back to your sleep.
2. Cut down on caffeine
2. Cut down on caffeine
You should not be drinking any caffeine after 2pm if you have a problem with sleep. Drink no more than two cups of tea or coffee per day and stay off the energy drinks.
3. Hydrate and keep hydrated
3. Hydrate and keep hydrated
Being dehydrated causes sleep problems.
4. Keep work out of the bedroom
4. Keep work out of the bedroom
Practice good time management, write lists so that when you get home at the end of the day you can leave work behind you and learn how to switch your technology off. Healthy boundaries are really important.
5. Relax
5. Relax
Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, mindfulness, meditation or power napping. Learn how to live your life more restfully.
*Name changed to protect identity
Dr Nerina Ramlakhan will release a self-help guide to sleep deprivation 'Tired But Wired' in 2010. More information on Dr Ramlakhan can be found at www.equilibriumsolutions.com
Dr Nerina Ramlakhan will release a self-help guide to sleep deprivation 'Tired But Wired' in 2010. More information on Dr Ramlakhan can be found at www.equilibriumsolutions.com
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