Rest is best - we know this not only from decades of scientific enquiry, but from our lived experience every day. Neuroscientist and sleep specialist Matthew Walker sums up the importance of sleep as “the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day” in his global bestseller Why We Sleep.
Unfortunately, this cure-all has become elusive or problematic for growing numbers. A study published in June 2020 found that 63% of the UK public reported their sleep had been worse since lockdown was announced in March. Half of those surveyed said their sleep was more disturbed than usual - which is often caused by stress and can itself increase stress levels. Many of us exist in a perpetual state of tired but wired, reliant on coffee and cakes for an energy boost during the way, and sleep aids at night when we struggle to switch off.