Humans spend a lot of time asleep -- about a third of our lives, in fact. It should come as no surprise, then, that developing and maintaining good sleep habits is a key factor in maintaining good physical and mental health. Unfortunately, data show Americans don’t have the greatest relationship with sleep. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control found at least 28.5 percent of American adults sleep less than seven hours a night, while 68.8 percent of teens reported getting less than 8 hours of sleep each night even though it’s recommended that teens sleep more than adults. Sleep deprivation can make it harder to learn, focus, and react. According to the National Institute of Health, you may have trouble “making decisions, solving problems, remembering things, controlling your emotions and behavior, and coping with change.” So how can we develop better habits around sleep? According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the term “sleep hygiene” refers to “healthy sleep habits that can improve your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.” Here are some of the top tips for developing and maintaining good sleep hygiene from NAMI, the CDC, and AASM: Consistency – It’s important to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time each morning. This helps your body [...]

Daylight Savings Time has come and gone while providing a reminder that our days are going to continue getting shorter and colder. Winter brings holidays, a certain chill in the air, decorations, time with family, and more time spent indoors. For some, the winter can bring feelings of sadness, low energy, increased isolation, and changes to otherwise stable routines. These feelings or changes could possibly indicate a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). As the seasons change, things like time, weather, and even light play a factor in our behavioral health. SAD is more complex than just “the winter blues”. Many experience challenges completing their daily routine, mood changes, and other symptoms similar to depression. If left unchecked, symptoms can escalate risking more severe symptoms. Differentiating between SAD and normal responses to life changes is crucial.  Self-awareness is beneficial in recognizing atypical functioning.  According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), here are a few symptoms associated with SAD: Feeling sad or having a depressed mood Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed Changes in appetite; usually eating more, craving carbohydrates Change in sleep; usually sleeping too much Loss of energy or increased fatigue despite increased sleep hours Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must [...]