With work-from-home (WFH) regulation now back, a neurologist and sleep specialist warned the public against converting their bedrooms into intermediate workspaces as it triggers insomnia.
dr Deborah Bernardo made this timely reminder as the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) has temporarily extended the WFH established for the Information Technology Business Process Management (IT-BPM) sector, not to mention a recent survey showing that Filipinos have risen to the 4th place as the most sleep deprived people in the world.
To help them regain their healthy sleep habits, she pointed out that all work-related activities and devices must be removed from their own private space at home in order to achieve the optimal amount of time they need to sleep .
Otherwise, she warned, they could deprive you of sleep and, far worse, lead to depression and anxiety, among other mental health problems, as well as physical challenges like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and breast and prostate cancer.
“People aren’t aware that they’re not getting enough sleep, so they don’t make it a priority in their schedules,” said Dr. Bernardo reporters during the webinar hosted by business community Bounce Back PH and health and wellness company Wellspring Philippines last 9/13.
For her, the bedroom should be a “sanctuary just for sleep and sex.” It must be in a comfortable, cool room temperature and have slow, relaxing music. Ambient lighting must be replaced with night mode and all other electronic devices must be turned off at least an hour before snoozing.”
Effects of sleep deprivation
STATISTICS show that many Filipinos suffer from chronic sleep inefficiency. One of them is Casey Ching, Wellspring’s Chief Operating Officer (COO).
“When we lack sleep, we tend not to function optimally. Because you’re stressed, you wake up unrested — and that hurts productivity in general,” she noted.
This problem affected not only her, but the whole family. This can be attributed to fear, which “was particularly high during the pandemic. We were worried about the older family members and the babies.”
Aside from hard-working top managers, mothers, whether housewives, singles, employees and entrepreneurs, are not spared from sleep deprivation. Like Vanna Reyes, a resident mom at Madiskarte Moms PH, she too suffered from insomnia that eventually affected her personal relationships.
“You can struggle in your relationships with friends. I have to pay more attention to my children. Alone time with your significant other is important; Intimacy can diminish when put aside and is often overlooked because of the burden of responsibility and worry,” she shared.
Start early with good sleep habits
SLEEP experts like Dr. Bernardo recommended that adults get at least seven hours of sleep. Fewer hours of sleep, especially in midlife, she said, “may contribute to future dementia.” Start improving your sleep as soon as possible.”
Reyes can only agree when it comes to developing a healthy sleeping habit as early as possible, especially for the younger generation.
“Let your children know that sleep is very important in their lives. I collect their devices before they sleep. When the light is off, the light is off,” she insisted while giving her advice to her three children. “You can be successful in life when you have a good foundation in your sleep.”
Getting a good night’s sleep requires a drastic mindset shift, suggested gigster Mark Darwin Balaswit. He said: “Filipinos wear this badge of honor for insomnia, but it has to stop. Why not do something about it and consider alternative solutions like Wellspring’s melatonin gummies, exercise and healthy eating?”
Reyes said melatonin, found in Wellspring gummies, makes them more relaxed and “ready to face the day with a more comfortable attitude.”
Gummiify your sleep pattern
Insomnia seemed to run in their blood, especially at the height of the pandemic. The Ching family kept thinking about their business, so they suffered from anxiety and lack of sleep.
But it didn’t dampen her spirits. It prompted her to search for something that would not only improve her well-being but also her livelihood – Wellspring’s melatonin gums.
“We were the first to use Wellspring’s melatonin gummies and we continue to do so when the need arises. These gummy bears have helped us alleviate our anxiety and sleep deprivation,” the COO said.
When she brought this Food and Drugs Administration-approved melatonin gum to the country, she personally witnessed how it addressed the sleep problems of “young adults who suffer from anxiety, mothers and freelancers who must afford the extra effort to get their… to earn a living”.
Wellspring’s melatonin gummies, she reiterated, “are not sleeping pills, but they are there to help you relax. Melatonin, for example, is produced by the body and has now been developed and manufactured in a vitamin form. It can relieve fatigue and let you sleep naturally and deeply.”
In addition to melatonin and vitamin B6, this sleep-inducing product contains other ingredients with additional benefits such as passiflora extract. It is the only brand on the market today that comes in three flavors: the Melatonin Sleep Aid Gummies with passion fruit extract to relax and promote calm before bed, Wellspring Nighttime with collagen and hyaluronic acid for better sleep and glowing skin, and Extra Snooze Extra Powerful Melatonin with L-Theanine and Lemon Balm Gummy Candy for an extra dose of relaxation for an extra good night’s sleep.
“A lot of people these days choose gummy bears because they’re easier to swallow and taste better,” boasted Ching.
Photo credit: freepik.com
