Have you ever heard the term ‘sleeping like a baby’?

Given that all newborns only sleep for a couple of hours at a time and that it can take a long time to establish a regular pattern of sleep, it seems like an odd phrase. What it is really referring to, perhaps, is the fact that babies do not wake because they are pondering life events, the weight of the world is not yet on their shoulders, their responsibilities do not impact on their rest, and their worries are few. Their state of rest is unencumbered and is only impacted so that their needs for food and comfort are met.

But fast forward 18 years or more, and the world has different ideas for us. We are bombarded by competing priorities and expectations and are finding our place in the world of work and relationships. We are surrounded by technology, pollution, noise and distraction which can impact on our sleep. The consequence of lack of sleep is well documented and impacts our health, ability to concentrate and focus, well-being, stress levels, mood, memory function…. the list goes on.

It makes sense, then, to find ways to improve the sleep you get because this will benefit you as a person, as well as you as a team member.

Getting good quality sleep is part of taking care of yourself, and given that our days in services are busy, complex, never the same, noisy, physically and emotionally demanding…and more…we all need to find ways to switch off to improve our sleep and overall well-being.

I took up pottery a few years ago and have found it a way of de-stressing. It is very absorbing, playful and soothing.

What do you do to switch off from work?

Send us your thoughts and images on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to see what you do, and you might just inspire someone else to have a go.