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Healthy Mind, Healthy You Challenge Week 2- Sleep
Welcome to Week 2 of our Mental Health Challenge! This week, we're focusing on sleep, one of the most important—and often overlooked—pillars of mental health.
💡 Why sleep matters: Quality sleep plays a vital role in emotional well-being, helping to regulate mood, reduce stress, improve concentration, and support memory and decision-making. When we consistently get enough restful sleep, we're better equipped to handle life's challenges. On the other hand, poor sleep can contribute to increased anxiety, irritability, difficulty focusing, and symptoms of depression.
One reason sleep is so important is because it helps regulate our body's circadian rhythm, often called our internal clock. This 24-hour cycle helps control when we feel awake and when we feel sleepy. Exposure to natural light in the morning signals to the brain that it's time to be alert, while darkness in the evening triggers the release of melatonin, a hormone that helps prepare the body for sleep. Maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule helps keep this cycle functioning properly, leading to better sleep quality and improved mental and physical health.
🎯This Week's Challenge: Choose at least one of the following activities (or come up with your own):
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Turn off electronics 30 minutes before bedtime each night - Give your brain a chance to wind down
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Get at least 10 minutes of natural sunlight each morning and share a photo of the sunrise to our SPH Facebook Challenge group - Morning light helps reinforce your body's internal clock
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Keep a consistent sleep schedule - A regular sleep/wake routine can support your body's natural rhythm
Complete this simple checklist to track your progress, hold yourself accountable to your goal, and reflect on how this week’s activities impacted you.
Small changes to our sleep habits can have a big impact on how we feel, think, and function. We encourage you to try one of these challenges and notice how it affects your mood, energy, and overall well-being throughout the week.
🧘This Week's Event: Free beginner’s yoga class with Maureen at the Holter Museum on September 21 at 6:00pm. Register here: Punchpass.com Class Management for Fitness Studios
*Class capacity is 40 people so don’t wait to sign up!
📚Here are some additional resources to help you understand the sleep cycle and cope with abnormal sleeping schedules:
If you missed any previous emails, you can find them here: Healthy Mind Healthy You Challenge | St. Peter's Health
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