Taking care of ourselves allows us to better care for others. Airline attendants regularly tell us this: “put your oxygen mask on first.” Self-care is not selfish; it’s life-saving. As we continue to grapple with many stressful things in our world, the UNMC Campus Wellness team reminds us to take care of ourselves.
Today’s “Take Care” tip: Get enough sleep.
Many Americans live sleep-deprived lives. This may be worse than usual due to the worry we all carry around about the pandemic. If you have trouble falling asleep, you may have “coronasomnia” — it’s so common it has a name! We suggest getting away from the news, the computer and your phone for at least an hour or two before bedtime, to give your mind a chance to settle down for the night. You also may find that doing 10 minutes of meditation or mindfulness before bed helps. And you can check out a free phone app, “CBT-I Coach,” which helps train your brain to quiet the negative thoughts we all have from time to time, which makes sleep easier to come by.
Some of us lie awake for hours each night; others rest easy. After a full day, what helps you unwind and get some shut-eye? Leave your suggestions in the comments below.