How has the pandemic changed the way we sleep?

The pandemic has disrupted and affected our sleep routines and made it clearer than ever that good sleep habits and routines are essential for greater well-being. Stress, fear, helplessness, worries, anxiety... Many raw emotions made us go through difficult times both personally and as a family. We and our relationships were put to the test, and fear and concern for the disease and our loved ones arose, as did the constant confinement at home without being able to go out. 

All of this generates stress that builds up every day, causing drastic changes in our diet, mood, routines, and even sleep patterns.

The pandemic caused clear changes in sleep routines and sleeping patterns. The uncertainty of not knowing what will happen, fear, concern for loved ones, and spending so much time at home changed many of our habits and routines. 

Different meal and dinner times, changes in the perception of time or the passing of time, delays in going to bed to sleep, whether due to nerves, stress, or lack of sleep. I'm sure many of us went to bed later than usual and didn't maintain a proper sleep schedule. 

Although it may not seem like it, this affects our sleep health and well-being. We need to get a good night's rest in order to perform well and stay in good spirits the next day.

Dreams, or the way we dream, are often conditioned by our mood and influenced by the events and emotions we experience during the day. Stimuli such as fear or uncertainty, as well as highly stressful situations, can negatively affect our rest and our dreams, leading to nightmares.

 Nightmares are very common in states of stress or strong emotions. Children are most vulnerable to them because they experience new stimuli and emotions every day. 

The fear and stress caused by the pandemic has led to more people, both children and adults, experiencing an increase in nightmares.

Nightmares, stress, worry, fear... All emotions experienced so intensely and uncontrollably not only create emotional instability, but also affect how we sleep and get adequate rest. The greater the degree of stress and fear, the greater the problem in falling asleep. 

We stay up later and once in bed, sleep does not come. Many have identified with this situation at some point, but with the pandemic, cases of insomnia have increased. 

A good sleep routine, the best equipment for rest, and a little relaxation or meditation can help relax the mind and get better sleep.

Spending so much time at home without being able to go out and only seeing your partner may have caused some normal friction in your relationship. However, even the pandemic has not been able to overcome the power of love, and in many cases, couples' relationships have grown stronger. 

According to many studies, sleeping with a partner is more beneficial to your health.

The change in our lives brought about by the emergence of COVID-19 marked a turning point in our lives. Our hobbies, social relationships, lifestyle, and even our values changed drastically, creating a stressful situation for everyone. 

The house felt like a whole world to us, as we devised a thousand and one ways to ensure that the children were not affected by this situation, looking for remedies and alternatives so that we could sleep at night, work from home, manage the care of children, pets, and even the elderly, personal care, and our mental health. Everything was affected by the pandemic. 

Exposure to screens ( televisions, tablets, cell phones, etc.) increased considerably, and being unable to disconnect from work in our personal lives was not easy while staying at home. However, we have overcome everything and become stronger.