Has COVID-19 disrupted your sleep patterns?

We keep hearing that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything. And we've had to adjust to find ways to work, exercise, and eat healthy all while in quarantine or, while out in public, maintaining social distancing.

For many of us, the changes have extended to the bedroom, where we find it more difficult to get a good night's sleep, which we all know is an important part of our physical, mental, and emotional health.

Now, not everyone is having trouble sleeping. The folks at Fast Company combed through six city's worth of data - —San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, New York, and Phoenix— -from Fitbit. They found that the Fitbit users in those cities were actually getting more sleep since shelter-in-place orders were implemented. They admitted that Fitbit users do not necessarily reflect the overall population.

The Sleep Foundation, on the other hand, points out that a number of factors have had a negative impact on the ability of most people to get a good night's sleep, including:

• Disruption of daily routines
• Anxiety and worry
• Isolation and depression
• Greater family and work stress
• Stress-related fatigue

In addition to sleep disruptions - the BBC reported that the hashtag #CantSleep had been trending, there have been reports of vivid dreams (and pandemic-related nightmares).

Most Americans have trouble getting a good night's sleep under normal circumstances, but the COVID-19 pandemic has made things worse. That's the bad news. The good news is, there are things you can do to improve your sleep.

Susan Desiderio, a Virtua Health wellness experts, offers three holistic tips toward a better night's sleep:

Relax with a yoga pose: Start with one of the most basic yoga asanas (postures) – virparita karani or “legs up the wall.” Combined with conscious breathing, this position promotes relaxation, improves circulation, soothes swollen or cramped feet and legs, stretches the hamstrings, and reduces headaches and anxiety.

Breathe in essential oils: For deeper relaxation (even while doing "legs up the wall"), add one of these essential oils - lavender, sandalwood, or bergamot.

Shut off your brain with an eye pillow: Combining essential oils with a weighted eye pillow can take your relaxation to a deeper level.

To get the details on Desiderio's sleep tips, read her article on the Virtua website.

What are the advantages to a good night's sleep? According to The Sleep Foundation, a good night's sleep:

• Empowers your immune system (and research has shown lack of sleep may make some vaccines less effective)
• Heightens brain function
• Enhances mood (we all know people who get irritable when they don't get enough sleep)
• Improves mental health; lack of sleep has been linked to everything from depression to anxiety disorder to bipolar disorder

Virtua has created a COVID-19 resource hub that includes up-to-date information about the pandemic, changes to the health system's operating guidelines - including visitation, ways to connect with care - including a self-assessment tool, and the answers to frequently asked questions.

There, you will also find useful information such as:

• A mental health expert's advice for managing anxiety about COVID-19
• How to avoid stress eating when stress is high
• A child life specialist's tips for creating normalcy for your kids

All of these and many more can be found on Virtua's resource hub.

You can get news, information, tips, and guidelines for healthy living on any health or lifestyle topic that's important to you - by subscribing to Virtua's Good Vibes newsletter. You can customize the content to match your interests and receive a monthly email that will help you be well, get well, and stay well.