Dr Nerina Ramlakhan on clocks going back this weekend

The clocks go back this Sunday – which means we’ll gain an extra hour in bed each night. For many, the clocks changing can throw us off kilter for a few days as we get used to it… But, as most of us are working from home it could be that we see a real benefit this time.

As a result, dreams have been impacted during this period too. Many have reported discovering rooms they never knew existed in their home, losing control at the wheel of a car and finding themselves naked in a public place.

We dream for different reasons – to process the information of the day, to make sense of emotional upsets, trauma and stress and to process our creativity. The dreaming process helps us to organise memories, consolidate learning and make sense of life.

Yet the way many of us have been living since lockdown and all the changes to our routines is hugely affecting how we sleep – as we sleep well when our life is well. We can’t hide from our deepest fears and anxieties in our sleep, as the ‘shadow side’ is awakened in our dreams and this is heightened during unsettled times. When we get more REM sleep (the Rapid Eye Movement phase where we sleep lightly and with consciousness) and not enough deep sleep, the dreams become more vivid.

Aston spoke to sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan to highlight how this might affect us and also offered her tips and advice on sleep.

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash