As a result of the missed sleep, our concentration is affected, our energy is depleted, and our cognitive functioning is adversely impacted. Equally, our physical health isn’t out of the woods either, so these late nights will also see physical challenges too. But how do we look after our overall well-being when we desperately want to see our favourite athletes take to the podium? Read on for tips, tricks, and advice because, at Converge, we care about your health.
When Is The Olympics?
This July 26th, Paris will be full of onlookers eager to see as much of the Olympics as possible. The event will run until August 11th, and for Australians, most events will play out through the night. For example, the opening ceremony will start in the early hours, precisely at 4:24 am AEST on July 27th.
Like many other nations, our athletes will have to tackle jetlag and fatigue while trying to bring home the gold. So, it’s not just us who are about to suffer. However, we have the ability to look after our well-being and understand what will happen to our mental and physical health with meagre sleep for the next few weeks.
How Sleep Deprivation Affects Our Mental Wellbeing
When we get little to no sleep, it can spell disaster for our brain functionality. We may find it hard to socialise, concentrate, work, complete schoolwork, drive, focus, and many more. Unfortunately, this could be your reality if you plan to stay up all night and watch the Olympics.
When we go through life on meagre sleep, our ability to control and regulate our emotions is impaired, meaning we become more sensitive and agitated. So, you may not be able to control yourself when you’re next cut off while driving down the freeway like you usually would after a solid eight hours.
Sleep is also strongly linked to our mental health, and when we don’t sleep well, our mental fitness is impacted. Therefore, sleep deprivation may induce feelings of anxiety and depression. Both sleep deprivation and mental health can also operate bi-directionally, with insomnia and other mental illnesses making it harder for us to sleep. As such, we need to ensure that while we stay up to watch the Olympics, we’re not exacerbating or causing mental illness.
The Physical Side Of Sleep Deprivation
While sleep deprivation can be severe for your mental well-being, you also need to keep an eye on your physical health. With low energy due to those late nights of watching boxing, archery, and the 100m sprint, you may feel less inclined to exercise and cook a hearty meal – favouring unhealthy takeaways. However, your physical health will be adversely affected in the short, medium, and long term.
Sleep deprivation increases your likelihood of becoming obese and developing high cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension – according to Better Health. There are also other unthinkable side effects of poor sleep you may not have considered. Being sleep-deprived while driving increases your chances of crashing.
Comparatively, a person driving on 7 hours of sleep has a 1.3x crash likelihood. Meanwhile, a person driving on 4-5 hours’ sleep has a 4.3x crash likelihood. So, when you’re considering pulling that all-nighter to watch Ian Thorpe win the gold, perhaps re-evaluate your decision if you have a long drive the next day.
How To Look After Your Mental-Wellbeing During The Olympics
It’s a very linear process with a cause and effect: the Olympics are during the night, we stay up to watch, and the next day, we’re exhausted, and our energy is drained. This goes on and on until the Olympics end. That is, until the next overnight sporting event commences. So, how do we take care of ourselves? Saying don’t do it will be futile, so here’s some advice…
- Take a nap: Have an afternoon nap – but only one and not close to bedtime. If you need to work the day after, perhaps have a 5 to 25-minute nap during your break to energise yourself.
- Train your body: You could try establishing a new route that tricks your body into feeling awake at night. However, this may impact your cognitive functioning during the day.
- Take regular breaks: If you need to work the next day or have something important to do, take a moment to rest. If you work behind a computer, make sure you take little breaks to ensure your eyes aren’t becoming strained – which can make you feel more tired.
- Eat healthily: Don’t let nutrition slip off the radar; keep up your healthy eating habits to ensure you absorb key nutrients and vitamins. This will also help you maintain energy while surviving on little sleep and aid your cognitive ability.
- Limit your caffeine intake: While it might be tempting, try cutting back on the caffeine while staying up into the early hours. Filling up on caffeine may seem like a good idea, but it will affect your ability to sleep once you get your Olympics fix. Caffeine may also impact the quality of your sleep.
Let Converge Help You During This Exciting Time
If your workplace EAP is Converge, we offer a series of services. One of those services is nutrition and lifestyle assistance to help you maintain good mental and physical health through diet, sleep, and more. Check with your HR team to see if this service is available to you, and if it is – or if you need general mental health support – book an appointment via the Converge App or our website. We have a plethora of expert consultants who understand your needs, and they’re available anytime, anywhere!
