That thing we forgot to do, work meetings we have tomorrow, or the cliff hanger in American’s favorite trash tv show "90 Day Fiancé” are thoughts that might prevent our brains from winding down. We are also staying up late on Zoom calls, socializing or watching movies on our days off. This leads to sleeping in on our days off to ‘make up’ for the lost sleep. (See a trend here?) And don’t get me started on drinking the alcohol. As a huge beer snob, you can bet I enjoy a boozy bourbon barrel aged imperial stout from time to time.

All of these factors contribute to a decreased quality of sleep.

The sudden changes in our sleep time disrupt your body and brain’s ability to fall asleep. The same goes for when you wake up. If you sleep in a few hours compared to your normal wake time, it’ll disrupt your body and brain’s ability to wake up at the same time. The cycles involving Deep Sleep and REM Sleep are a mess. This leads to lower energy levels, waking up fatigued, and mood changes. You might start drinking more coffee or caffeinated beverages, and later in your day, to compensate for your lethargy. But these practices make it all worse!

Having a night time routine is important for settling your thoughts and prepping your brain for a full and restful sleep. Try to stop drinking caffeinated drinks 6 hours prior to going to sleep. Other mind stimulating distractions like your phone, television, and computer should be shut off an hour prior. So take some time to your skincare routine, brush and floss your teeth (dentists HATE this ONE CRAZY TRICK), and do something that calms your brain like reading a book/kindle (NOT YOUR PHONE) or meditating.