How to get a good night’s sleep – advice from the Devon Wellbeing Hub

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in News, Recovery and wellbeing on 17th March, 2023

Today is World Sleep Day and the theme for this year is Sleep is Essential for Health. A lack of sleep can have a huge impact on our physical and mental wellbeing, and is as important as diet and exercise.

Emerald Hughes, Colleague Wellbeing Practitioner at the Devon Wellbeing Hub, writes about the importance of sleep and shares some useful advice and resources to help if you’re struggling to switch off.

Emerald says: “Working in mental health has allowed me to meet some amazing professionals who are always striving to support and empower their clients. However, I’ve noticed that those in caring professions often struggle to make time for their own wellbeing. I’ve found this to be especially true when it comes to sleep. The average adult needs between seven and nine hours sleep in order to function, and the research into the importance of sleep is widespread, highlighting its impact on our problem-solving skills, life expectancy and emotional regulation.

“In my previous work as a Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner, I often discussed the importance of sleep hygiene (usually with teens who were struggling to manage school stress and the freedom of having a more loosely defined bedtime). Having good sleep hygiene can include setting a firm bed time and morning routine so that our brain can get used to regular ‘sleep cues’ which help our body know that it’s time for rest. However, for many shift workers in the NHS, this is often easier said than done. In this case, other steps you could consider might include reducing screen time before bed, avoiding caffeine late in the day - including chocolate (as tasty as it may be!), ensuring that your bedroom is dark, quiet and cool and getting physical exercise a good few hours before bed.

“The Sleep Foundation have some amazing resources to help you improve your sleep, including a great list of podcasts which I’ve personally found really helpful when I have struggled with sleep in the past. The key is to find what works for you, and be kind to yourself while you’re figuring it out. Our quality of sleep often goes through ups and downs, and an occasional bad night’s sleep can’t always be helped. As with so many other parts of our wellbeing, it may help to talk to someone about your difficulties or experiences, or you may benefit from some of the amazing self-help resources out there. A favourite of mine is the Headspace app, which NHS staff can access for free.”

“Lastly, I would always consider a good mystery novel before bed. Nothing beats the Hercule Poirot inspired dreams that I often get after finishing a good novel.”

Get in touch:

Getting support from the Devon Wellbeing Hub is simple. If you work in healthcare, social care or the police and are struggling with any aspect of your wellbeing, or you lead a team who would benefit from support, the Hub can help you today. Please get in touch by emailing dpt.devonwellbeing@nhs.net or by calling 0300 303 5455. You can also fill out the referral form on the Devon Wellbeing Hub website

TALKWORKS also offer support for sleep, including one-to-one sessions with a therapist and their regular Improving Sleep workshops. You can refer yourself to TALKWORKS by completing an online self-referral form or by calling 0300 555 3344. If you would like to find out more about the workshops or book a bespoke session, please email dpt.talkworksworkshop@nhs.net.