Millions of us struggle with one thing: sleep. Whether it’s raising small children who interrupt our night’s rest, struggling with things like anxiety that keep us awake and stop us getting comfortable or even just bad habits like trading a Netflix binge for a solid eight hours shut-eye, we are a nation of very disturbed sleepers. Research shows that the majority of adults struggle with sleepless nights on a regular basis. But when you absolutely have to get up and function after a horrendous night, how do you do it? Can you fake it on a minimum of sleep or even no sleep at all? If you have to be on the ball when you’ve been through a broken night, here is a coping strategy until you can get back to bed…
Cut The Caffeine
Almost by default, we reach for the coffee after a night spent tossing and turning. But that’s actually about the worst thing you could possibly do. Yes, you might get a temporary boost, but it’s very short-lived and the crash afterwards can be hellish. Coffee raises stress hormones which can make you even more exhausted and suppress appetite so you don’t get the fuel you need to see you through. Reach for the water instead – staying hydrated keeps your mind much more awake and focused. If you must have coffee limit yourself to one cup and then switch to water and herbal teas instead.
Finish Your Shower With A Cold Burst
Psyche yourself up, because a short hop on a very cold shower is a guaranteed way to wake your body and brain up and get your circulation pumping. End your normal shower with a quick blast of the coldest water you can bear and you’ll get that hit of alertness you need! Studies show that doing this is also great for your skin, gives your mental health a boost and improves your tolerance to stress.
Get Camouflaged
It may seem like a lot of effort when you haven’t slept, but a little make-up is your best friend when it comes to hiding the effects of a sleepless night. If you are always running late in the morning and have literally no time to put makeup on but need the instant eye-opening effect, try simple at home lash extensions. These sets not only save you a ton of time but also can last up to a week. Eyelashes have the ability to quickly transform a puffy sleepy face.
Using whitening eye drops can take away redness and soothe you, while a white eyeliner used in the waterline and inner corners can fake a wide-awake look. Or borrow a trick from countless celebrity makeup artists and pop a little haemorrhoid cream on those eye bags to magic them away. Using a peach toned colour corrector can also help to conceal dark shadows and make you look more human, even if you don’t feel it!
Get Walking Outside
Lack of sleep upsets the body’s Circadian Rhythms – the natural hormones that tell us when to feel sleepy. It turns into a vicious cycle, with the missing sleep making us more out of whack. Help to gently reset them by getting outside in natural daylight for a brisk walk. This will signal to your brain that it’s daytime and time wake up, while you also catch some all-important Vitamin D, which supports energy levels and your immune system.
Disclaimer : This is a collaborative post.