Stress Management & Sleep

As mundane as it sounds, sleep is an important way of reducing stress. Chronically stressed people almost all suffer from fatigue (in some cases resulting from stress-induced insomnia), and people who are tired do not cope well with stressful situations. These dynamics can create a vicious cycle. When a distressed individual gets more sleep, they feel better and are more resilient and adaptable in dealing with day-to-day events. I always ask stressed friends how much sleep they are getting, whether they wake up rested or tired, and how much sleep they generally need to function well. Most people know what their usual sleep requirement is (the range is five to 10 hours per night; the average being seven to eight), but a surprisingly large percentage of the population is chronically sleep deprived.

Doctors urge patients to go to bed 30 to 60 minutes earlier and to monitor the results after a few days or a week. If they are still tired, they suggest a bedtime 30 minutes earlier than this. Eventually, they find what works for them. The three criteria of success are waking refreshed, good daytime energy and waking naturally before the alarm goes off in the morning.

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