Here’s what you can do if stress is hurting your sleep

SALT LAKE CITY — Stress is one of the biggest factors that contributes to bad sleep quality. When does it get to the point of sleep deprivation?

In the latest Let’s Get Moving with Maria podcast episode, Maria Shilaos spoke with Dr. Kelly Baron, a clinical psychologist with specialty training in behavioral sleep medicine, to learn what steps we can take to get better sleep during times of stress.

Stress is one of the most common reasons why people go see Dr. Baron. When people are stressed, their sleep can be disrupted in so many ways.

Some people have a hard time falling asleep, some find themselves frequently waking up in the middle of the night, others wake up too early. All of these lead to an unrefreshed feeling the next day.

“It probably comes from an evolutionary origin… When you’re under stress, you’re under threat, and you shouldn’t sleep deeply. That would be really dangerous,” Baron said.

These days, stress lasts on our mind for a long time to the point that it gets exhausting over time. It also negatively affects our behavior, so we’re less likely to exercise and more likely to eat unhealthy food.

Most of the time we can’t completely get rid of stress, but there are ways we can better manage it. 

Baron says it starts with bringing back all those things that go out the window when we’re under stress. This includes making time for exercise, making healthier food choices, and getting social support.

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