Challenging islanders to a good night's sleep

Tuesday 25 August 2020

A local health coach is setting people across the Channel Islands a slightly unusual challenge - to get a good night's sleep.

With help from two Jersey companies, Guernsey's Daniel White is hosting a CI Sleep Challenge throughout September, encouraging everyone to put more thought into the quality of their rest.

"Especially when we're stressed or have disrupted daily routines, sleep is absolutely vital to maintaining a strong immune system and our ability to cope with the challenges we face," he explained. "It's worrying to see trends of poor sleep, but there are many tools, techniques and simple lifestyle changes that can help you fall asleep more easily and sleep more deeply."

The challenge will get underway on 13 September and those getting involved will have access to a number of online tools to help them through.

Pictured: Daniel White (image from sleepbetterlivebetter.co.uk).

"When we sleep better, we feel better and our mental and physical health is able to flourish," Mr White continued. "We wake feeling energised, refreshed and fully alive, and through this challenge it is my mission to improve the way that everyone in the Channel Islands sleeps."

The programme is being sponsored by We Talk Wellbeing and Marbral Advisory - two Jersey companies which partnered earlier this ear to launch a suite of wellbeing consultancy services.

"One of the number one issues I observe in the clients we work with is that they struggle to consistently get a good night's sleep," said Dr Glenda Rivoallan of We Talk Wellbeing. "Many people underestimate the power of restful sleep; it's the first step to improving wellbeing. When we improve the quality of sleep, everything else gets easier."

Pictured: Everyone who signs up will have access to a set of tools to aid their sleep (image from sleepbetterlivebetter.co.uk).

Leonie McCrann of Marbral added: "In this climate, many of us are working more from home and we are seeing a blurring of the lines between work and home life. People are reporting that they are working longer hours, often late into the night to balance their new work/life commitments. This has a major impact on our time for sleep which, in turn, impacts our productivity and ability to self-motivate, which can have a destructive cyclical effect.

"Research shows that lack of sleep results in sub-par work, requiring re-work and increasing workloads. This is not good news for the wellbeing of individuals, companies and society as a whole. We need to recognise this and break this cycle now."

For further information on the sleep challenge and how to get involved, click HERE.