Q
Dear Abi,
During this strange period, I’ve been feeling a lot more stressed than normal, and subsequently I’m struggling to get to sleep at night. Once I do manage to drift off, my sleep is often very disrupted, as I wake up at various times throughout the night.
Ask Abi...
Blue Stream Academy team member, Abi, is here to answer your questions and give advice to our readers. If you have a question or problem and would like some advice, please feel free to contact Abi via email at: bsatoday@bluestreamacademy.com
Useful Links (Last accessed June 2020) • www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/caffeineand-sleep • www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/howexercise-impacts-sleep-quality • www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise
When I feel like this, it normally passes within a few days or a week at most, but this time it seems like there is no end in sight. Have you got any advice on how to ease the stress and hopefully get some better sleep? Thanks, Anon
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Dear Reader,
I am sorry to hear that you are feeling like this. As the days pass by, many people are feeling more and more stressed, without being able to pinpoint the exact cause. But don’t worry – you are certainly not alone in feeling like this, and with a few changes to your routine you should be sleeping better and feeling less stressed. The first change that might help is to reduce your caffeine intake, especially in the late afternoon and evening.
Caffeine can cause a stimulating effect within 15 minutes, but it can take about 6 hours for just half of that caffeine to leave your body – something worth considering before drinking a cup of tea or coffee in the late afternoon! Have you been able to exercise regularly? Increasing your daily exercise, even by a small amount, could really help with improving your sleep. It may also be a great way to clear your head, which, in turn, may start to reduce your stress levels. Try putting down your phone or any other ‘blue light’ electronic devices at least one or two hours before you go to bed. Other options, such as using a sleep-focused pillow spray, having a bath or reading a book, may also help you wind down for a good night’s sleep. These are just a few tips to get you started; there are plenty of resources out there, such as NHS Live Well, that have lots of useful information to help you sleep better and reduce your stress levels. I hope some of these suggestions work for you, and that you can eventually rest well with a good night’s sleep. Thank you for getting in touch and stay safe.
#TeamBSA
I
n a change to our usual news on upcoming events and fundraising opportunities, we’d like to share something slightly different. Over the last few months our daily lives have altered somewhat, as the nation has embraced the stay at home lifestyle, our team has got creative to keep themselves occupied during the evenings and weekends. Here’s a look at what they’ve been getting up to (and also what’s been happening while we’ve been working from home): “Over the past few months, we’ve been trying to recreate a ‘night out’ style meal every few weekends as a treat. Our favourite to date has to be these smoked salmon and cream cheese blinis – just delicious!” Abi Events and Media Manager
“During lockdown I’ve been perfecting my brownie-baking skills! Here’s a picture of my favourite batch to date!” Sian HR Manager
“My cat sometimes joins me when I’m working from home – on this occasion she decided to sit on one of the shelves next to my desk to keep me company.” Keely Content Developer
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“During lockdown I’ve been using my hobby of crocheting to make face mask bands, designed to relieve the pain around the ears caused by the protective face masks that NHS and social care workers are required to wear. I’ve been handing these out to friends and family who work within the NHS and other healthcare facilities, to help keep them safe and comfortable during these unpredictable times.” Ellie Assistant National Trainer
Abi
