6) Rye, shine, and getting the flock to sleep
Our physical health has a significant impact on how we feel. Whilst there is heightened anxiety in the air, it’s even more important to eat well. A healthy and well-balanced diet can help to improve mood as well as increase energy levels. Staying hydrated is equally important, a lack of fluids can lead to difficulty with concentration, headaches and thinking clearly.
At times like this, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behaviour which can end up making you feel worse. A healthy diet will also help to keep immune systems strong.
Promote your staff to get out in the sunshine during their lunch and boost their vitamin D levels. Vitamin D increases serotonin production which can help to regulate mood and ward off depression. It’s likely that staff will be feeling more stressed than usual and Vitamin D can help to reduce stress as well as boosting mood.
Vitamin D can also help sleep quality by promoting optimal melatonin (sleep hormone) secretion at night. A lack of quality sleep can negatively impact both our physical and mental health as well as reduce our immune system’s ability to fight off infections. Conversely, when your people are well rested and recharged, you’ll notice the difference in productivity and motivation.
Researchers have found that the relationship between sleep problems and anxiety is bidirectional. This means that sleep problems can cause anxiety, and anxiety can disrupt your sleep. This is the same for stress and even depression. Calming the mind is the prerequisite for getting a good night’s sleep. There are many relaxation techniques that can help calm the mind throughout the day and improve sleep. Encourage mindfulness meditation, yoga and breathing exercises to help achieve calm. Something as simple as taking a walk when you have a short break can also help to clear the mind. If you practice techniques for calming your mind during the day, then it will be easier to trigger your relaxation response at night.
A resource and discussion for reducing drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic