Illustration by Kaitlin O'Toole.
Strategies for improving sleep
As part of Live Well @ Work week, workshops on June 13 and June 17 will explore the importance of sleep.
The June 13 workshop on the Fort Garry campus will look at why sleep is a priority and some helpful tips and strategies to get a good night’s rest, led by Katie Kutryk, a registered nurse and the health and wellness educator with Student Support at the University of Manitoba.
“We are all part of a busy culture. Juggling so many things, our sleep is often the first thing to go,” Kutryk previously told UM Today. “We readily sacrifice sleep for seemingly more important tasks, tumbling us into a trap of sleepless nights and exhausted mornings.”
One thing she suggests is to think about sleep in terms of scheduling.
Just as you schedule other important things in your life, you should schedule sleep, she said. “Think about what you can change in your schedule to ensure you are getting enough sleep,” she said.
The June 13 workshop from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. in E3 – Room 262, Engineering Building (Senate Chambers), 75B Chancellors Circle.
Details are available here.
On June 17, Professor Norah Vincent, department of clinical health psychology, will share insight into how sleep is vital for optimal growth and performance, focusing on evidence-based strategies to improve sleep.
Vincent has been researching sleep disturbance for nearly 20 years.
According to Vincent, insomnia is often overlooked as a potential diagnosis.
“What we know now is that frequent insomnia does not go away and it needs to be addressed specifically, ” she has told UM Today.
There are significant day-to-day and longer-term impacts for those who suffer from insomnia.
“There’s compelling data showing now that having insomnia leads to twice the risk of developing a stroke, becoming overweight, developing an anxiety or a mood problem.”
There’s also research that shows that if you treat insomnia in addition to depression, you double the remission rate, she says.
The June 17 workshop with Vincent runs from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. in the Dentistry Building, 780 Bannatyne Avenue.
Details on the workshop listed here.