UTAR CGU hosts virtual talk on sleep

Sleep deprivation has become a common occurrence in the 21^st century due to the increase of workload and stress in workplaces and academic institutions. It has gone as far as affecting the physiological and mental health of students and adults who suffer from it. Recognizing the significance of sleep and the health issues it exerts, an online talk titled “Cherish Your Sleep Talk” was held by UTAR Department of Student Affairs (DSA) of Sungai Long Campus’ Counseling Guidance Unit (CGU) on 24 June 2020 via Microsoft Teams.

The talk was conducted by Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) lecturer Tarun Amelnerkar and moderated by DSA Counsellor Navamani Nagappon. The talk aimed to provide insights into the many aspects of sleep, such as its definition, phases and importance. It also aimed to spread the awareness of sleep deprivation, for example, its causes, effects and how to overcome it.

Tarun began his talk by examining a survey that was filled up by the students. He particularly examined several questions, such as “Do any of you wake up in between your sleep?”, “Do any of you have dreams” and “Do you use your smartphones or tablets before sleeping?”. From there, he moved on to explain several elements of sleep and said, “You can make slight changes to your routine to improve your sleep.”

Tarun showing the survey results

As the talk progressed, Tarun showed a number of local and international studies conducted by other researchers, particularly those that focused on sleep problems and disorders. From there, he continued with various interesting topics, such as the 4 stages of sleep, the effects of sleep disorder, insomnia, and etcetera. He even discussed the effects of caffeine consumption and how it affects our sleep, which was a problem often faced by most students. He said, “You should avoid having coffee after 3pm, as it can affect your sleeping schedule,” while adding his own personal anecdote. Additionally, halfway through the talk, he took the time to answer some of the participants’ questions.

Tarun presenting his slides

At the end of the talk, he taught the participants a breathing technique called Square Breathing, which helps to decrease a person’s stress and allows them to sleep better. He demonstrated the technique in a live practical session, showing how to perform it in different positions, all whilst explaining how it works. The participants conveyed their appreciation to Tarun for teaching the technique.

Tarun demonstrating the Square Breathing technique

The talk ended with several more topics regarding sleep. It was followed by another Q&A session between the speaker and the participants.