In the midst of all that has happened in Nigeria in the last few weeks, sleep which is a cornerstone of our health, is likely to be suffering.

A good night’s sleep is very important to our health and general well-being because it recharges our brain the way we recharge the batteries of our mobile phones. Without quality sleep we are prone to serious physical, mental and emotional issues.

Because of what the nation is experiencing, many of us find it very difficult to sleep as we are thinking of so many things about our country Nigeria, the future and security of our families especially our children and so many other things. Some of us are also going through one type of trauma because of what we have seen, read or experienced.

Not having enough sleep is bound to add health problems to all that is happening around us. It will have a negative effect on our mental and emotional health which will affect our work, social life and family life for a long time to come.

Getting a good night's sleep is an important way to take care of our mental health. These practical tips can help. Click To Tweet

We should try to monitor and take care of our mental health so as to be able to think and take the right decision concerning ourselves and our respective families.  We can do this by taking the following suggested steps:

• Relieve your anxiety by always trying to relax quietly some minutes before going to bed.

• Meditating on God’s Word will help you keep your sanity.

• Please go off all social media platforms for some days especially a few hours before going to bed.

• We all experience times that we find it difficult to sleep because of the state of our mind. When that happens, get out of bed, take a pen and paper and write down all our fears, anxieties and problems and then go back to bed.

The TED Talk below offers further insights and useful information on the importance of getting sufficient sleep.

If you’re accessing this on your phone, hold the phone in horizontal mode to have a better viewing experience.

Please let us try and take care of our mental health.