Author: Lauren Jeffries

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Features

‘Shift work aged me faster than stress could alone’ — the real impact fragmented sleep has on our health

As part of the Fall Back into Great Sleep campaign I orchestrated for Tom’s Guide, I investigated Shift Work Sleep Disorder.

This refers to the struggle that shift workers face when it comes to getting good rest. In fact, it highlighted a larger inequality between high earners and low earners when it comes to sleep, proving that quality rest is now a luxury not everyone can afford.

‘Shift work aged me faster than stress could alone’ — the real impact fragmented sleep has on our health

A tired nurse sitting on the floor of a hospital after her shift

What first piqued my interest in this disorder was witnessing how many of my friends and family members sacrifice their sleep for their careers.

After diving deeper and discussing the issue with doctors, lawyers, nurses and experts, I realised the true impact shift work has on our health.

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Features

I asked a parasomnias expert what was causing my night terrors – her answer surprised me

Since I was a teenager, my nights were always occupied with vivid nightmares and night terrors. But the one that has stuck with me well into my adult life is a hallucination of spiders crawling on me.

I wanted to get to the bottom of this phenomenon so I spoke to Dr. Jennifer Acostamadiedo to find out more.

I asked a parasomnias expert what was causing my night terrors – her answer surprised me

So, it turns out what I experience isn’t actually a ‘night terror’, but more a disruption of my REM sleep when I’m in a state between sleeping and waking.

The conversation was fascinating, and Dr. Acostamadiedo was super friendly and interesting. Go and have a read to find out everything you need to know about nightmares and night terrors.

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Content

Cultural Capital: How Travel Promotes Opportunities for Young People

The Learning Adventure is a fantastic organisation that helps schools take children and young adults in education on trips around the world.

Freelancing for the Learning Adventure (and its two sister companies: The Coyote Trip and the Dragon Trip) was a great opportunity, and my first ever paid writing gig! This article in particular stood out.

Cultural Capital: How Travel Promotes Opportunities for Young People

Having travelled a lot, I think it’s such a core aspect of education. Learning about cultures first-hand helps combat ignorance that can develop into xenophobia. It also provides so many learning opportunities and inspires independence and confidence.

Writing for an audience of teachers and educators can be intimidating, but I enjoyed this more formal style.

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Features

I took part in a gold standard sleep study to find out what happens during a sleep cycle — here are my results

A woman sat crossed legged on a bed linked up to wired for a sleep study

If somebody told me my love of writing would take me to a swanky London hotel where I’d be linked up to brain activity monitors and a lot more… I wouldn’t have believed them. Or, I would have been very, very confused.

But here I am! As the Sleep Features Editor for Tom’s Guide, it’s my job to learn everything there is about sleep, and that includes how the brain works while we rest.

I took part in a gold standard sleep study to find out what happens during a sleep cycle — here are my results

A woman sleeping on her side while connected to lots of wires

So, while I’m mildly embarrassed that these photos are on the internet, it was such a great experience and I learnt so much. The polysomnography monitored just about everything, from my eye movements and body movements to my brain waves and oxygen levels. At the end, I received a full report showing exactly how I sleep throughout the night (including a video recording??). So, go check it out and learn a bit about your brain!

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Content

Coping with climate anxiety

Writing for Surfers Against Sewage and Plastic Free Schools was a fascinating and fantastic job. The content I wrote was always interesting, and I always learned something new. Knowing your work is spreading the right message means a lot to me, so working with a charity so aligned with my own beliefs felt really meaningful and worthwhile.

Coping with Climate Anxiety: Mindfulness and Sustainability

This article I wrote really stood out as one I’d like to share. I remember learning about climate change in school and feeling terrified. Now, with more awareness (and admittedly, a worse climate,) this feeling has been coined as ‘climate anxiety.’

When we’re bombarded with images of floods, fires, and droughts, as well as new statistics highlighting just how critical the situation is, it’s important to take time to look after your mental health.

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Features

An exploration into the gender sleep gap

6 women featured in an article

Currently, the Tom’s Guide Sleep Team is an all-female team, and I’m constantly in awe of the Sleep Editor and the Managing Sleep Editor who both have young children.

Juggling a high-stress, demanding career with parenting means sacrifices have to be made, and often, this means sleep.

“I’m the last to go to bed and the first to wake in the morning” — 9 women on the gender sleep gap and why they’re tired all the time

6 women featured in an article
Credit: Future / Tom’s Guide

But it’s not just mothers. The gender sleep gap refers to all of the factors that block women from getting quality sleep. This includes the menopause, period pain, caring responsibilities and the expectation to take on more unpaid labour alongside paid labour, like housework.

I spoke to 9 women from all walks of life to learn about their experience of the gender sleep gap, and it was truly eye-opening. Have a read to find out more:

Categories
Short stories

Publication in issue one of The Bournemouth Journal

The Bournemouth Journal logo that shows a yellow and blue compass with a B T and J around it

Today’s the day! While I was told a month or two ago that the short story I entered into the Bournemouth Writing Prize was being considered for publication in the inaugural issue of the Bournemouth Journal, it was a recent substack post that confirmed I would be one of 10 prose writers featured.

I’ve spoken to many writers who have echoed almost my exact words: submitting to competitions feels like screaming into a void, sending your work off into the ether to never be read again. So, to finally be recognised feels amazing and is so motivating… I’m already writing my next story in preparation for another round of submissions!

May: What Makes a Winner? by The Bournemouth Journal

In the run-up to Issue One of The Bournemouth Journal’s literature review, we reveal the writers being featured, we open for submissions, and we ask: what makes a winning entry?

Read on Substack

The short story that was longlisted is called Salt Thirst. While I won’t give any spoilers away (you’ll have to order a copy of the journal to read it!), here’s a small explanation I’ve written to feature alongside the story:

“For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by the idea of mermaids. But as I got older, the meaning of this symbol changed. I saw more and more how mermaids were sexualised, seen as devious sirens and subjects for men’s fantasies. To me, mermaids are now a powerful representation of objectification, and I want to use this to draw attention to the feminine experience of living in a misogynist society. “

Lauren Jeffries on Salt Thirst

The issue is being published on the 1st June, and considering it’s the first issue, I have no idea what to expect! The featured writers are getting sent a copy, so I’ll post a little bit about it once it’s delivered!