How Covid Helped Me Sleep Better
Just over a week ago my wife got Covid. It certainly wasn’t pleasant for her with the sneezing and coughing fits. And then the boredom of having to stay in bed for hours at a time, which sounds lovely, but was a right royal pain in the backside. Getting out of bed just caused more coughing and sneezing and then more tiredness … to end up back in bed!
I, however, did okay out of it.
We are fortunate to have a home with multiple bedrooms and with good beds in them. So, we decided to “separate” while she was contagious. Hand sanitiser was everywhere. We used the kitchen at separate times and the second bathroom came in handy.
Around this time, I wrote this piece about having a Good Night’s Sleep. The list you have to increase the chances of getting a good night’s sleep because:
- how good is sleep? and,
- how much better do we perform when we’re fully charged up?
Here are five things I “learned” over the last week or two!
(I say “learned” because while we know much if this, we don’t act on it! Benefits await those who do!)
1. The Dog 🐾
We have a greyhound who sleeps on the bed! (Strike one!) Not a great idea, I know. Not really. Not if you want to a good night’s sleep. He’s also on the larger side of greyhounds. (Strike two!) So, while the wife has been unwell, he has slept on the main bed with her, in my space, and I have been dog free in the second bedroom.
The lack of an animal in the bed, quite obviously improves the chances of sleeping better! Who knew? 😮
2. The Television 📺
I’ve become less of a fan of TV lately and it’s played into improving my sleep. I read more now and the TV I do watch is early in the evening, so I’m done around 7:00pm. The wife enjoys TV and she has been unwell, so we have not stayed in the same room for more than a few minutes.
She watches TV in the family room, which is more comfortable. If I need to watch a show (mostly YouTube these days), I do that in the gym room.
Less blue light and emotionally charged shows improves the sense of calmness before bed. Plus, watching uplifting and encouraging videos make you happier and even less stressed.
3. The Alcohol 🍷
I do love a nice red wine (Shiraz, if you’re popping over! 😉) but I decided that the last red would be the “last red during the week”. Having a glass or two in the evening affects my sleep, so going without has helped tremendously. Not sure if reducing the alcohol has anything to do with Covid but there is a cumulative effect. I get better sleep mostly due to points one and two. Wine at night might jinx that.
4. The “Alternate” Activities 📖 📓
Without the TV and the drinking (it sounds bad putting it that way), I have more time on my hands, so this has been filled with things I know to do but just don’t get around to doing … until now!
Sitting in the library reading a book on the Kindle, or a “real book”, is relaxing and while it stimulates the mind, it is at its own steady pace.
I grabbed my Five Minute Journal* out and re-started that enjoyable pastime.
It all has a calming effect.
(*NOT an affiliate link)
5. The Walk 🥾
This is the struggle to be honest. I’m trying to complete 3km per day, mostly by running in the morning. But I recently pulled a muscle in my back, so I’ve resorted to walking for now. I don’t need the jolt in my back pounding the pavement.
The struggle is to make sure I do it each day, which means it may happen in the evening, the last thing I want to do after a day at work and making dinner.
But I get out and stroll around the neighbourhood for 30 minutes and, if I do this early enough, it seems to contribute to the better night’s sleep. Maybe it helps with digestion.
Note: I rarely like starting the walk, if I’m being honest, but I always enjoy having walked.
Again, this is not so much to do with Covid but with the cumulative affects of all of the above.
In Conclusion
I feel for the wife who has had a hard time of it. It wasn’t just a mild cold, as some have said. Well, not for her! She is through the worst now and the latest test was negative so she’s on the up and resting for the rest if the week to maximise her recovery. In fact today she’s out shopping, so she must be okay! 😉
Plus, her son flies in on Sunday and she’ll likely want to give him a hug (or two!)🤷♂️
Over to you
What helps you get a better night’s sleep?
What triggers a poor night’s sleep? How can you eliminate those triggers and feel better and charged up for the day?
What about then cumulative effect? Is there one thing you can do or a number of things that really helps with sleep.
I know some shift workers (e.g. nurses) read this blog. How do you manage the rhythm of changing shifts? I’m sure there are some things us “9–5ers” could learn!
Let me know in the comments.
