Filipinos are said to be the 4th most sleep-deprived people in the world.
A sleep specialist advised that one of the “cures” would be making your bed a sanctuary “only for sleep, rest, and sex” amid the current work-from-home (WFH) set-up where many people have converted their bedrooms as their temporary workstations.
Dr. Debbie Bernardo, neurologist and sleep specialist, said removing all work-related activities as well as gadgets is one important way by which Filipinos could revert back to healthy sleeping habits.
In a webinar hosted by business community Bounce Back PH and health and wellness company Wellspring Philippines, Bernardo pointed out that sleeplessness could lead to depression, anxiety, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and breast and prostate cancer.
“People are not aware of their insufficient sleep so they don’t make it a priority in their schedules,” she said.
What can help Filipinos distinguish their personal and workspaces is by transforming the bedroom into a “sanctuary for sleep and sex only,” she said.
“It has to have a comfortable, chilly room temperature and slow relaxing music. Ambient lights must be replaced by night mode, and all other electronic gadgets must be turned off at least an hour before snoozing off. Go to the bedroom only when you want to sleep,” Bernardo added.
For her part, Casey Ching, COO of health and wellness company Wellspring, said anxiety in her family also caused sleeplessness.
“Our anxiety level was high especially during the pandemic. We were concerned about the senior members of the family and the babies and we were also constantly thinking about our businesses so we suffered from bouts of anxiety and sleeplessness,” Ching said.
This led her family to look for something that would provide them relief — giving birth to Wellspring melatonin gummies.
“We were the first to use Wellspring melatonin gummies and we continue to do so when the need arises. These gummies have helped relieve us of our anxieties and sleep deprivation,” she said.
In bringing the FDA-approved melatonin gummy to the country, she saw that it addressed the sleep problems of “young adults who suffer from anxiety, mommies, and freelancers who have to do the extra hustle to make a living.”
She described Wellspring melatonin gummies as “not sleeping pills, but they are there to relax you.”
“Melatonin is produced by the body and has now been developed and manufactured in vitamin form. It can alleviate fatigue and let you sleep naturally and deeply,” she said.
Dr. Bernardo said the recommended minimum number of sleeping hours for adults is still seven.
She said less hours of sleep, especially in mid-life, “can contribute to dementia in the future. Start as soon as possible in improving your sleep.”
Ching said “many people nowadays opt to take gummies because they’re easier to swallow, and taste better.”
Aside from melatonin, Wellspring gummies contain other ingredients with added benefits such as vitamin B6 and Passiflora extract.
Ching added that Wellspring is the only brand in the market today to have three variants of melatonin gummy products. These are the Melatonin Sleep Aid Gummies with passion fruit extract to help relax promote calm before bedtime, Wellspring Nighttime with Collagen and Hyaluronic acid for better sleep and glowing skin, and Extra Snooze Extra Strength Melatonin with L-theanine and Lemon Balm gummies for an added dose of relaxation for that extra good night’s sleep.