The nature of a care role means that you will work different shift times and patterns, which can be quite a strange adjustment if you’re not used to it. What we’re talking about in this blog is how to look after your sleep hygiene and make sure you are well-rested even with the nature of a care role.
When you are tired and not well-rested, you are more prone to becoming stressed and impatient, which can lead to feeling unhappy. Of course, the wellbeing of our carers is a high priority – which is why we’re going to give you some tips on how to have a better sleep routine.
Adapt your environment
Your environment can make all the difference to your sleep. Make sure your room for resting is comfortable, not too hot or cold and as minimal noise as possible.
If possible, try to avoid having things like your computer or TV in your room as this can disturb your sleep.
You should also check your mattress, it may not be your first concern, but a comfortable mattress can make the difference to your sleep regime. Your mattress should be replaced every 10 years, so if it’s been a while since you got your mattress potentially look at a new one.
If you are sleeping at different times of the day, invest in some good quality curtains or blinds that will keep your room dark. This will make it a lot easier for you to switch off and go to sleep.
Create a routine where possible
It may not always be possible to go to sleep at the same time every day but where you can create a routine, you should. Doing the same tasks before bed will signal to your brain that it’s time for sleep, this could be brushing your teeth, reading a book and then getting your head down.
Even if the time that you’re going to sleep can’t stay the same, doing your usual pre-sleep routine will send the same signals to your brain.
You should also look to try and reduce your caffeine intake before your bedtime, try to leave a few hours between the time you want to go to sleep and your last caffeine drink.
Of course, there are plenty of other things you can add to your routine to have better sleep, such as doing some physical activity in the day or using aromatherapy tactics like massages/lavender oils. However, we have tried to keep this to what is the most realistic and accessible for everyone.
If you are a carer and you have tips for others about how you maintain a decent sleep routine, feel free to share them on our social here.
We support all our carers to ensure they are well-rested and have positive well-being and mental state, so if you are looking for a career as a carer – we would be happy to speak to you.
You can take a look at our vacancies here.
