Operating from his clinic in London as well as select venues including Grayshott Spa Hotel in Surrey, this week Sleep Specialist,  Tej Samani, explains how the weather affects our sleep … 

Yes, it has been and continues to be a cold, long, drawn out winter period, which as a result is playing havoc on our biological rhythm and body clock.  By now we should be experiencing longer days, sunnier climates and overall happier moods, we’re not.

The consistently low levels of natural serotonin we normally receive this time of year (thanks to the sun) will begin to take its toll.  If you’re experiencing the following, rest assured that a part of it has to do with our long drawn out winter:

• Mood swings

• Increased levels of tiredness and lack of energy

• Struggle to get up in the morning

• Not being able to switch off and sleep at night because your mind is racing

• Eating more sugary based junk food

A lot of the above has to do with tiredness, sleep deprivation and lack of natural sun.  The climate plays a huge part on our mood and our ability to recover (sleep well).  So what’s the solution?   Let’s all run away to Barbados for the month!  If only.  It’s vital you maintain what we call your ‘inner resilience’, today’s post is not going to focus on tips to get a good night’s sleep, it’s going to focus on three important factors that will prevent your body from maintaining its ‘inner resilience’ and therefore sacrifice it’s natural ability to get good quality sleep:

Not taking at least one 15-30 min break though the day

Your body works in 90-minute work-rest cycles; in order for you to ensure     your natural biological rhythm stays in balance, take a short rest break.      Remember an athlete won’t train for eight hours straight without a break,         there’s a reason for that!

 Eating and drinking food and drink that will dehydrate you

Though it sounds simple, water is your ‘gold dust’ during long winters, keep a large bottle on your desk.  Secondly, try to avoid eating dinner very late, it will place extra strain on your body to digest your food while it wants to unwind and rest.  It’s hard and we’re all working long hours, even if it means a bite at your desk though not ideal, is better for your body in the long run.

 Sleeping very late on the weekends

You’ll hate me for saying this but if you sleep very late on weekends, consistently you will become severely sleep deprived and dehydrated as the week goes on.  It will place a huge strain on your body to have to keep pushing without any natural reserves; you will work on borrowed energy.  The weekends are a perfect time to relax but try to ensure you’re in bed at a similar hour at the weekend as you are in the week.