Sleep & Finances
Money Geek explores how poor quality sleep can impact your finances and reaches out to me for expert advice on improving your sleep cycle.
Read the full article here or my contribution below:
Expert Insight on the Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Finances
Indigo Stray Conger, LMFT, AASECT CST
Financial stressors are one of the most common anxieties keeping Americans up at night. Yet sleep deprivation lowers our ability to make rational decisions and to optimize our health for work tasks and attendance, putting us at greater financial risk. This vicious cycle can be difficult to interrupt. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce insomnia and get quality sleep, allowing you to face financial stressors with a clear head and a more optimistic outlook in the morning.
Cut off caffeine use in the early afternoon: When you are stressed and exhausted, it's natural to turn to coffee or energy drinks to keep you going. When the afternoon is dragging, caffeine may feel like the answer, but caffeine can keep you awake for up to 12 hours. If you attempt to sleep through the effects of caffeine, chances are you won't be getting good quality rest, perpetuating your chronic exhaustion. Remember too that commercial coffee can contain as much as 1000 mg of caffeine a serving, four times the amount an average person should limit themselves to in a day. Using that powerful stimulant in the morning can make your afternoon crash even worse.
Don't stare at a screen before you go to sleep: Most people know that artificial light can make it difficult to fall asleep. Blue light from screens also prevents quality sleep and can affect you for weeks, just from one night of doom scrolling or binge-watching. This isn't only a few minutes before bedtime. To optimize restful sleep, turn off any artificial light two hours before you plan to go to bed. Avoid watching TV or scrolling on your phone in your bedroom so that your body associates your bed with rest. If turning off screens at night seems impossible for your lifestyle, at least set your device to night mode, reducing blue light emission, or wear blue light filtering lenses.
Prepare your body to relax: Stretching, breathing exercises, or a warm bath can all help your nervous system deactivate and make it easier to fall asleep. When anxiety is high, it can be tempting to wait until you feel completely depleted and then literally fall into bed, hoping for sleep to happen. Instead, be intentional with your bedtime routine. 15-20 minutes of self-care goes a long way towards stopping the cycle of chronic lack of sleep and stress. Consider what would relax you the most and try out a few different routines until you find what works for you.
Optimize your bed for comfort: Memory foam pillows, sleep masks, weighted blankets, bed warmers, lavender essential oil spray. There are no shortage of products you can use to allow your body a little more ease on your way into dreamland. Even when you are facing financial setbacks, a small investment for the right sleep optimization tool can be worth it to finally get a good night's rest. Notice what feels most uncomfortable in your body when you are lying awake at night and pick an intervention that will alleviate this discomfort.
Remember, quality sleep of sufficient duration is the most important factor in physical and mental well-being. When financial stressors loom, sleep can easily move down your priority list. Prioritize getting a good night's rest and financial stressors will be easier to tackle.