Are you really sleeping well? This is what junk sleeping does to you
Do you know that feeling? You wake up in the morning and feel like you are completely unrested. A lot of cups of coffee seem to be your only solution. Maybe you just went to bed too late the night before, and it quickly becomes clear where that feeling comes from. But even after that holy eight hours of sleep, you can still wake up feeling so tired. Is that the case? Then you are probably suffering from junk sleeping; but don’t panic, you can fortunately do something about it.
What is junk sleeping?
We all know the term junk food. You may have eaten something, but because it was unhealthy, your body won’t really benefit from it. Junk sleeping works in exactly the same way. You do sleep, but in such a way that it is not healthy good for your body. In the morning, you still feel tired and restless. It can depend on how long you have slept, but even after a long night, you can still experience it. It then depends on the quality of your sleep. If that is too low, your brain and body do not get the chance to recharge completely for a new day.
Symptoms of junk sleeping: how to recognize it
The most obvious signal that you are suffering from junk sleeping is that you are still mega tired in the morning, and that this feeling really lingers. Most people will not immediately be at full hundred percent when they wake up; it’s also not strange that you need a bit of time or your morning dose caffeine before you are ready. So don’t sound the alarm right away. Those who suffer from junk sleeping may also notice some signals during the day. For example, you may find it harder to concentrate, or you may be a lot more irritable. Your muscles may feel tired or even hurt, without you having been to the gym the day before. In terms of mood, you also won’t be the most cheerful; junk sleeping can make you feel more down. One last thing to watch out for: your skin. The lack of really good sleep can make your skin look a bit duller and grayer; you might even look a bit older than you really are. And to be honest, that’s not always very nice.
How does junk sleeping occur? These are the main triggers
It may not come as a surprise, but according to sleep expert Dr. Katharine Hall, our phones are one of the biggest triggers for junk sleeping. “Too much blue light from the screens of electronic devices can significantly affect your sleep quality. Blue light suppresses the release of melatonin, a hormone that makes us feel sleepy.” During the day, that can sometimes be handy to prevent you from dozing off during a boring task, sleep but in the evening, that’s not what you want. Another trigger is an unkempt bedroom. A messy room creates unrest in your head, which means you will also sleep less well. This also applies to a room that is too cold or too warm, or where there is too much light at night. What can also disturb your sleep is not taking enough time for an evening routine. Your body needs a clear signal that the day is over, and also the time to really switch off.
What can you do against junk sleeping?
’Waking up in the morning feeling like you need a whole night to handle the day is of course not ideal. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to wake up feeling rested. Ideally, we would all put our phones away at least an hour before going to bed; but, to be honest, no one really does that. If you still want to watch a series, make sure your phone or laptop is in night mode. What can also help is creating a rhythm. As far as possible, of course. If you go to bed around the same time every day and prepare for sleep in the same way, your body will experience more rest and you will therefore suffer less from junk sleeping. One more tip: take a good look at your bedroom. You might discover that too much light is coming in as standard, or that the air conditioning could be turned down a notch. Let junk sleeping also be a reason to change your sheets more often. That is definitely more hygienic and also ensures that you sleep better; and what is nicer than the feeling of a fresh bed? Sleep well.
