Due to the success of series one, we are running four new webinars looking at different topics, these sessions are open to anyone who works in policing to join.
The webinars form part of a wider piece of work, our better sleep toolkit which will launch fully in January. This toolkit includes an online course that aims to help you learn and practice the habits you need, wake up with more energy, be more productive and worry less. You will learn how to improve your sleep, Sophie will talk through some quick and easy fixes and you’ll find out more about the importance of sleep.
The course is split into four one-week modules and will take just five to ten minutes a day, but you can move at your own pace and just choose the bits that feel most relevant to you. There’s an extra module to help you manage night shifts and information about the most common sleep disorders, if you want help to fall asleep right now, the toolkit includes a series of breathing and relaxation techniques that you can download and listen to in bed.
Keep an eye on our website for further details on how to sign up.
Register now for the webinars
All four of our new webinars are now available to book. Each will be one hour long and the format will be an interactive 45 minute presentation with a 15 minute live question and answer session with Dr Sophie Bostock.
You can chose to attend any that feel relevant and can sign up to as many or as few as you like. Please note to access these webinars you will need to sign up with your work email.
Session 1
How to fight fatigue like a fighter pilot: Managing your energy when sleep is in short supply
This webinar has now taken place, the recording is now available using the link at the bottom of the page.
We all know that sleep is good for us, but there are only so many hours in the day. What can you do when good quality sleep is in short supply? What can you do to anticipate and mitigate against the risks, and reduce the impacts of fatigue on your performance?
In this session, we’ll explore:
- the subtle impacts of sleep debt to watch out for at work, and why they occur
- how to manage your day to make the most of your natural rhythms in alertness
- techniques for switching off the stress response, to optimise recovery time, no matter how much you get
- fatigue countermeasures, such as napping, stimulants, harnessing motivation, and finding flow
Session 2
Sleeping with anxiety: How sleep and mental health are linked, and how to protect both
This webinar has now taken place, the recording is now available using the link at the bottom of the page.
Whether you experience niggling worries or severe anxiety, you have probably noticed that poor sleep is often around the corner. Insomnia and anxiety can exacerbate each other, which can lead to a negative spiral. Fortunately, targeting either poor sleep or anxiety can have benefits for the other.
In this session, we’ll explore:
- the difference between worry vs. anxiety, and normal sleep vs. insomnia disorder
- how and why anxiety and sleeplessness are related
- how to tackle the most common thoughts that keep you awake at night
- strategies to help with anxiety, which will benefit your sleep
Session 3
What's different about women's sleep? Hormones, psychology, pregnancy and the menopause
This webinar has now taken place, the recording is now available using the link at the bottom of the page.
Anyone can suffer from sleep problems, but statistically, women report higher rates of disturbed sleep than men. This is particularly true at key life stages such as puberty, pregnancy, and the menopause. Why? And what can we do about it?
In this session, we’ll explore:
- how sleep changes at different life stages
- why the differences in sleep between men and women may not be what they seem
- the most effective strategies to help with sleep when your hormones have other ideas
Session 4
The dream completion technique: A self-help strategy to stop nightmares and help sleep
This webinar has now taken place, the recording is now available using the link at the bottom of the page.
Dr Justin Havens is a psychological therapist specialising in resolving psychological trauma quickly and safely.
Justin will be leading this webinar to explore:
- why we dream and how nightmares occur
- the relationship between nightmares and PTSD
- how to use this technique in practice and potentially improve your sleep tonight
- understand PTSD and alternative treatment approaches
Access the better sleep webinar recordings
The recordings are only available for people who work in UK policing. If you are a serving officer or member of staff within a UK Police Force with a .police.uk email address and you would like to watch these webinars, please go to the login page (at the top right-hand side of your screen) and set up an account. You will then be automatically able to access this material. If you already have an account and are logged in, please use the button below to take you to the recordings.