Are you ready?   It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves over and over again the last few weeks.  In short I’m not too sure we are, but just like any new job, house, relationship you may always feel a little bit awkward in the beginning. The newness brings up lots of emotions like feeling, scared, worried and anxious or perhaps you’re just excited?  

When we first went into lockdown way back in March 2019 things went a bit surreal, what about you? Can you remember that far back?  Anyway it all seemed manageable after all it’s just for a few weeks, few months at most.  Jeez how we wish that was the case, but anywho we’re where we are.  To be honest things didn’t get weird until the masks became mandatory ( I still wear one even though I am technically exempt - I wear one because I can't abide the stares or the questions from security guards - quite frankly it's none of your business but then I was never any good at confrontation.  The weirdness started the first time I wore one.  I momentarily blacked up, got very dizzy and had to steady myself by hanging onto a shop fitting.  Things didn’t improve for a long time and even now I still end up with asthma symptoms brought on by an anxiety attack.  For any of you unsure the symptoms here’s a handy list 

I woke up this morning with an extra special spring in my step.  Not only is the cleaner coming round in a bit, so i did the usual clean before the cleaner bit , making beds, picking up shit (not literally) off the floor and making sure there weren't any shit stains in the loo.   Sorry for all the shit so early on in this blog.  But because this day is sunny and bright there is a certain buzz to it.

So first let's dispel the myth that you need a big house to have a cleaner.  Believe me the day I actually took the plunge to get one was a herald of angels moment, sparkly lights, a chorus sung from the heavens and from that moment on my life took an unexpected turn for the better.  God did I miss her over lockdown.  It’s not that I don’t have to clean on other days because believe me I still do the odd bit and every now and then a complete blitz of all the corners and the cobwebs.  Because you’ll understand that 2 hours of cleaning in a 4 bed house once a fortnight doesn’t quite make it spotless.  But what it does do is make it manageable.

How sleep affects your Mental Health

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say something headliney “That sleep cures EVERYTHING!” Yeah, OK, for those wishing to get pedantic, maybe not the cancers and other illnesses of that nature.  But it sure goes some way to making you feel a darn sight better.  From a personal point of view I know that a few hours sleep can make you feel on top of the world.  That 20 minute cat nap does work wonders on your little grey brain cells.  Have you ever had a “Disco Nap” - Oh maybe I shouldn’t be talking about that right now? Because it makes me yearn for a damn good night out.  Anyway, Sleep is like ambrosia, the nectar of the gods and having a decent 8 hours, it’s seen as the gold star of “winning at life”  But if like me your sleep pattern has been one of concern then read on.  If your mental health is not at it’s best, I can offer up a few ideas that may go some way into getting a better night's sleep and in turn a grip on your mental health.  I know how it feels to not get the sleep you need and to feel as if life is spiralling away from you.  I’m here to offer some things to think about, some tried and tested ways and a gentle arm around the shoulders when all above fails.

Why sleep matters

So why is sleep important?  Well the body needs a rest, plain and simple as that.  During those sleeping hours your body has the chance to replenish and renew itself.  It’s not just physical either, this is for mental stability too.  Sleeping lets you dream and dreaming helps you order and understand the day's events.  Boy do we love those weird and whacky dreams that come by every now and then.  We all know how we feel when we’ve had a sleepless night, you feel drained exhausted and really out of sorts.  But what happens when you keep getting sleepless nights? What then?