Aside from green juice and healthy food, sleep is up right up there on my list of favorite things. I crave it and I know my body needs at least eight hours of it. Unfortunately, in our hectic lives, sleep is one of the first things to go. Trying to get more done in a day, we sacrifice sleep. Someone once said to me that sleep is free so why wouldn’t you take all you can get? That really stuck with me.
But why get more sleep? So many reasons!
- Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check
- Reduce stress
- Have more energy
- Increase immunity and lessen inflammation for fewer colds and illnesses
- Experience fewer cravings and a more predictable appetite to encourage weight loss or maintenance
- Stay more alert, think more clearly and have a sharper memory
Basically, you can get more done in a day and feel better all day long when you have enough sleep.Exactly how much sleep you need depends and varies by person but experts recommend at least eight hours and that’s what I aim for.
Here are my tips for how to get more and better quality sleep:
- Power Down: Turn off the computer, television and other electronics at least one hour before you go to sleep. This helps to quiet the mind chatter and de-stimulate the senses.
- Bring it On: Put yourself in the mood to sleep by playing relaxing music, taking a hot soak, lighting a candle and doing some deep breathing or meditating.
- Create an Oasis: Clear your space of all clutter and have clean sheets. I also like to burn lavender essential oil in a diffuser.
- Stop Sipping: Aside from maybe a small cup of herbal tea, stop drinking liquids around 6 p.m. Part of sleeping well is making sure your rest is uninterrupted and getting up to use the bathroom doesn’t help.
- Cut the Caffeine: Similarly, lay off any caffeine after 3 or 4 p.m.
- Power Nap: Although it’s not always feasible, if you can do it, take a 20 minute nap daily to recharge your battery.
With the long weekend ahead, hopefully you can put these tips into practice and get some good restful sleep!
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