Stress to sleep: Expert advice on how to sleep better tonight

Good-night is what we say and hear every night. Sleep is a vital necessity and several factors contribute to a good night’s restorative sleep.
Our cells get depleted during an awake and conscious day. The restorative concept states that sound sleep enables the restoration and repair of physiological wear-and-tear and replete vital cellular mechanisms essential for biological activities. Restorative sleep is crucial for a person’s wellbeing and fitness.

Bangalore-based neurologist Dr. Srinivas Rao tables the following:
Sleep deprivation is termed as a state when an individual does not get enough sleep. Though it may differ from person to person, anywhere between 7 to 8 hours of sleep is recommended and the quality matters as much since poor sleep inhibits essential happy hormones like dopamine. Meditation is advised by experts to relieve stress and depression.

Do you nod off during the day? Or have severe impulse to take naps during working hours. Watch out for these symptoms to detect sleep disorders. You may find it tough to fall or stay asleep at night. Unusual breathing patterns and fatigue indicate insufficient sleep. Sudden and aggressive impulses to shift while falling asleep besides experiencing inadvertent fluctuations in your sleep or wake routines are the red flags.
Psychiatrist Kiran Sethi from Pune outlines the detrimental effects of sleep deficiency:
The wonders of a deep, sound sleep ought not to be overlooked. Create a sleep-conducive environment like cool, dark or dim room with comfortable bedding. Dr. Rao advises, “Stay away from electronic devices a good 1 ½ hour before hitting the sack. Avoid stimulants like coffee, alcohol, smoking, day time siesta. Relax with a book, soothing music or a warm bath. Maintain regular bedtime and wakeup schedules every day, even on a holiday.”