Reset your clock
For Aggie, cutting alcohol out of her life improved her
sleep dramatically. “At the beginning it was scary –
and dealing with the identity crisis was really hard.
But as the days and weeks went by and I started to
feel better physically, I also started to feel better
mentally. After about two to three weeks, my sleep
improved hugely and I was really surprised to
discover that I’m an early bird by nature, which was
not something I expected! I was able to regenerate
during my sleep and I felt so much calmer and in
control during the day.”
This is a common outcome reported by many
drinkers. In fact, a recent study by the University
of Sussex found that 71 percent of participants
reported they slept much better when they abstained
from drink for a month. Interestingly, 67 percent
reported more energy, 70 percent had generally
improved health and 57 percent enjoyed better
concentration levels too.
To reestablish your own healthy sleep patterns, the
first step may be to cut down or reduce your alcohol
intake (see Aggie’s helpful tips). Creating the right
sleep environment will also help you to ease back into
a regular pattern. Make sure your bedroom is around
1 8°C, dark and quiet, and try to reduce the time you
spend on your phone before bedtime (the blue light
emitted by these devices can disrupt our levels of
melatonin). If you’re suffering with stress and anxiety
and this is impacting your ability to sleep – and
creating a reliance on alcohol – it’s important to
address this too.
So, before you reach for that nightcap, consider
whether you really need it. With an increasing
number of people speaking freely about the impact
drinking has on their lives and the sober curious
movement gaining traction, it could be time to
reassess your relationship with alcohol. You may
find you’ll benefit in more ways than you think.Claire Munnings
Claire Munnings is a
health and wellbeing
journalist. She enjoys
writing about holistic
ways that we can live
more mindfully and
improve our health.When reestablishing
healthy sleep patterns,
check in with your 'sleep
hygiene': limit caffeine,
screen-time and stimulus.