How To Get Through The Day When You Haven’t Had Enough Sleep

Having trouble holding your head up at the desk? You are not the only one?

According to a recent poll carried out on behalf of  A.Vogel found that a whopping eight out of ten people have trouble sleeping, which has a knock-on effect on our energy levels throughout the day.

The poll highlighted that poor sleep leaves us in a sorry state, with a quarter of respondents bickering with partners as a result, a third feeling tearful at the drop of a hat and a quarter making bad decisions.

“A lot of people sleep for seven hours but still wake feeling tired”, said A.Vogel nutritional therapist, Alison Cullen. “This is because they’re failing to go through a proper ninety minute sleep cycle consisting of five stages."

If you're one of the many who struggle, Cullen has some top tips on how to survive a day on very little sleep...

• Fill up on protein rich foods such as meat, poultry, seafood, and beans and avoid carb overload, which will leave you feeling even more sluggish. 
• Go for a walk and get out into the daylight. This will help stimulate the pineal gland, which produces melatonin to control your internal body clock and sleep patterns.
• Take some deep breaths if you find yourself yawning because this is a sign that the body is lacking oxygen, making you feel tired.
• Eat magnesium rich foods. Lack of sleep results in depleted magnesium in the body, which can leave you more sensitive to pain. Being more prone to pain can lead to disturbed sleep - a nasty vicious circle.
• Water is the easiest, cheapest, and fastest cure when you're flagging. Fatigue is, after all, one of the first signs of dehydration.
• Opt for green or white tea rather than a coffee for a pick me up. The caffeine in coffee provides a false hit and won’t help dehydration.
•  Snack on dried fruit to ease sugar cravings rather than reaching for sweets.