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How well do you sleep at night?



The Circadian Rhythm & Sleep Hygiene


How well do you sleep at night?


The answer to this question is often the best insight into an individual's overall health and well-being. If you experience poor sleep, you’re not alone, with nearly 50% of Australian adults experiencing two or more sleep-related problems, e.g. difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep and daytime drowsiness (2016 Sleep Health Survey of Australian Adults).


Sleep is important and a key foundation of health, with the quality of sleep and rest being just as important as quantity. Sleep is a time when the body can go into ‘rest and digest' mode and rejuvenate/re-energise from the inside out. We all know how frustrating it is to experience poor sleep. If you struggle with ongoing sleep disturbances/deprivation, larger issues can arise from poor brain fog and a weakened immune system to chronic disease.


Modern life, stress, worry and busyness often set us up for poor sleep hygiene practices - sleep hygiene refers to the impact of diet and lifestyle on sleep. Late nights engaging in a Netflix series, social events, commitments at work and meeting deadlines can often lead to sacrificing some precious hours of sleep in the long term, and this, paired with a poor diet, can contribute to poor health and disease.


Sleep Disruption - The Circadian Rhythm


Our sleep is regulated by the body’s circadian rhythm, which regulates our daily sleep/wake cycles with natural light and dark. In the body, this is controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), located in the brain's hypothalamus. The SCN controls the release of melatonin - the hormone responsible for signalling the body that it’s time to sleep.


Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland in the brain in response to darkness and helps with the timing of your circadian rhythm and with sleep. Melatonin is suppressed in response to light, and cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) is released in response to light. Engaging in habits before the lead-up to bed, e.g. exposure to artificial and blue light from technology devices, can reduce melatonin secretion and can interfere with poor-quality sleep and delayed sleep onset.


A pattern of sleeping minimal hours each night can overtime affect the body in many ways. The activation of the HPA Axis (the body’s central stress response system) and the autonomic nervous system (regulating the body’s functions, e.g. heart rate) increases the body’s stress hormone cortisol. The increased levels of cortisol can impact serotonin and melatonin production - the hormones affecting mood, happiness and sleep.


Chronic, long-term activation of the HPA Axis can disrupt the brain’s GABA (a naturally occurring amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter in your brain) balance. This contributes to poor sleep quality and quantity and, over time, can significantly impact an individual’s health.


Sleep Hygiene


There are many things you can do to support consistent quality sleep, and the best place to start is by changing your habits. Poor habits throughout the day and in the lead-up to bedtime (aka sleep hygiene) are one of the major contributors to poor sleep yet one of the easiest ways to support quality z’s. Proper sleep hygiene helps to ensure we get the most out of sleep so we can function optimally.


To sleep, the nervous system needs to calm down, which can often be hard in today’s world. Here are some strategies to practice good sleep hygiene and quality sleep.


  • Establish a regular bedtime and consistent bedtime routine

  • Aim to go to sleep/wake up at the same time every day

  • Expose yourself to light upon waking

  • Avoid drinking caffeine after 2 pm - swap to herbal teas

  • Avoid screens in the lead-up to bed - if urgent, switch to night mode and promote relaxation

  • Create a healthy sleep environment - dark, quiet and comfortable

  • Quiet your mind - journal, meditation, deep breathing

  • Avoid alcohol

  • Eat an early and light dinner

  • Avoid anxiety-driven activities before bed - watching the news or checking emails.

  • Go to sleep when you notice the signs at night

  • Exercise daily

The Holistic Approach to Sleep


Whilst you implement your new healthy habits around your sleep routine, a holistic health practitioner can help support your body with nutrients and herbal remedies to nourish your body and achieve the rest you need. This may be done with a thorough investigation, case taking and pathology to assess any underlying drivers contributing to poor quality and quantity of sleep. From here, an individualised treatment plan will be created, including dietary and lifestyle considerations.


For advice on sleep health and further support, speak with a practitioner at Infinite Health Studio.


At the Infinite Health Studio, our experienced team of practitioners use a holistic approach paired with evidence-based medicine to help support you on your health journey.


🖥️ Book here



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