This week we’re chatting with Lindsay Percival, psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). 

Hi, Lindsay! If you could recommend One Good Thing everyone can do to improve their mental health, what would it be?

Good quality sleep is definitely the best thing everyone can aim for to improve their mental health.

Why is this your One Good Thing?

Sleep affects everything I do and impacts my overall quality of life. When I am tired it is difficult to connect to the joy in life and everything seems dark and miserable.

When I get an uninterrupted night’s sleep I know I’ll have the energy and enthusiasm to face the day. My job is to inspire and uplift people, which is near impossible if I am tired and in a negative space myself.

Talk us through why good quality sleep is so vital for our mental wellbeing. 

The benefits are less crankiness and less brain fog. You’ll also enjoy better concentration and the ability to learn, absorb and retain new information, and have a more optimistic view of life – people are good and life is good and is for living. Instead of looking back and dwelling on mistakes, I look forward and let go.

And what about why failing to get good quality sleep is so bad for our minds?

Lack of sleep affects mental and physical health because the mind and the body do not get a chance to recharge. Running on empty means we make mistakes, some of which can be fatal. Driving and operating machinery, for example, is a dangerous combination when coupled with poor sleep.

How do you personally prioritise good quality sleep?

I am a highly sensitive person and I have a very strict sleep routine. I drink one coffee a day in the morning and don’t drink tea after 4pm. In the evening I take time to wind down with nighttime tea and a good sit down. I watch the news before bed because I like to keep informed. I put aside my phone, and won’t answer emails or calls. I may take a sneaky peek at social media but generally I am getting ready for bed and tucked in by 10.45pm. When I don’t stick to my routine I really feel the effects; I’m way more reactive and find it harder to keep calm.

And how has doing all this changed your life for the better?

Respecting my mind, body and spirit and the need to rest and recharge has changed my life, giving me the energy and enthusiasm to do more things… things that would have seemed impossible from a tired, grumpy place. Hopefully, I am a better mum because of it.

Frame Of Mind is Stylist’s home for all things mental health and the mind. From expert advice on the small changes you can make to improve your wellbeing to first-person essays and features on topics ranging from autism to antidepressants, we’ll be exploring mental health in all its forms. You can check out the series home page to get started.

Images: Getty