The Mind-Body Connection Series: How to Get the Most of Your Sleep

by Liza Hinchey, LPC, NCC

Liza Hinchey is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice at Trinity Family Counseling Center. Liza completed dual Master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy from Wayne State University, and works with individuals, families, and groups across a range of presenting issues.

When supporting our mental health, the mind-body connection is one of the best places to start. Someone could have all the coping skills in the world, but if they’re not also taking care of their body, they might be at risk for issues like anxiety, depression, and stress. It doesn’t have to be difficult—even small changes, like the one I’m going to teach you today, can make a big difference!
 
In the first blog in this series, I want to talk about your body’s biorhythm. Every person (plants and animals too!) has built in “body-clocks” that work to keep us in a state of balance. Geese migrating when the seasons change are due to the same body-clocks that tell us when to go to bed and when to wake up. In fact, this “circadian rhythm,” or the human daily sleeping and waking cycle, is one of the most important when it comes to mental health. We’ve all heard the advice that we should go to bed and wake up at the same time every day; but why does the timing matter?
 
When we sleep and wake at the same time every day, it gives our biorhythms a chance to do their jobs properly. When our body doesn’t need to spend precious energy resetting its clock every night, it can focus on sleeping deeply, improving other biorhythms (like digestion), and directing energy towards the next day! However, not letting your sleep biorhythm do its thing can lead to insomnia, daytime sleepiness, concentration issues, and even symptoms of depression and anxiety. Especially if you deal with any of those symptoms already, it’s so important to support your mental health by supporting your sleep cycles.
 
Of course, we won’t always be able to maximize our biorhythms—changing work schedules, family needs, and other aspects of life may take priority. And that’s okay! Even if you can’t go to bed and wake up at exactly the same time each night, doing it when you can is still beneficial. Even if you’re an hour or so off, you can still experience benefits you may not see if you were two or three hours off.
 
At the end of the day, our bodies have an incredible capacity for adapting to all sorts of schedules and situations. But if you’re looking to improve your mental and physical health, try using your natural body-clock to your advantage!

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