Boost your mood, improve your resolve and regulate your eating habits with some extra zzz's.
Do you pay attention to how much sleep you get each night or do you sometimes cheat yourself from valuable sleep time? Sleep is not just vital for regular functions it's also important to help us with stress management and reducing daytime fatigue.
If you gave yourself some new diet and fitness resolutions this year or you're working to cut back or quit a habit, you should include extra sleep in your plan. It will help improve your mood when you are feeling deprived and increase your resolve to meet that goal. Many people make bad food choices when they are tired. Do you want to be sharp and full of energy every day? Well, it may be easier to achieve than you may think. How you feel while you are awake, greatly depends on how you sleep.
If you struggle to get a good night of sleep you are not alone. Some people find it difficult to sleep through the night without at least one bout of restlessness or running to the bathroom. Others find it difficult to fall asleep or wake up in the morning. According to a recent SheSpeaks poll 62.8% of you said you sleep poorly during these days of shorter daylight. 17.5% reported having continuous sleep problems. Many of the problems that make it difficult to sleep are emotional or environmental. Reducing these factors will help your ability to sleep through the night.
Some simple sleep strategies can be essential for a deep sleep. Here are our five sleep-promoting techniques to enhance the quality of sleep you get:
Most importantly, remember to make sleep a priority. Instead of cutting back on it for other tasks you have to complete, schedule it on your list. Having a good night rest will lay the foundation for a more productive, creative day.
Do you have certain products you use to help relax and get comfortable for a good night's sleep, maybe a clock, or super soft bedding, a favorite bath product or a good book? Whatever you use to get ready for bed we'd like to hear your recommendations.
If you share your reviews and recommendations this week you'll be entered for a chance to win one of our giveaway prizes. Submit your favorite sleep, slumber or relaxation product to SheSpeaks Reviews OR add a comment to this blog post by 6pm EST on January 16th, 2011. You can enter a review AND a comment and you will have two entries to win!
Prizes:
Philips Wake-up Light |
S2H STEP Pedometer (3 winners) |
Lavender Chamomile Bubble Bath by Deep Steep |
The contest starts January 10, 2012 and ends January 16, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. Must be a US resident. No purchase necessary.
GOOD LUCK!
As I get older, I find I cannot just lay down and go to sleep. I find myself relying on Ambien to help me shut my mind off and get the rest I need. I read every night and that helps. I am eating lighter these days using a low carb/no sugar/high protein life style change. It is working to help me get a better night's rest
A really good nights sleep is really hard for me to come by because I have three children that i have to get settled down first, but if the night goes smoothly i like to take a long shower or a hot bath to relax and then lay in my bed with big fluffy pillows and comforter with the ceiling fan going on low.
Key seems to be lowering the stress levels by evening. Having exercised during the day helps. Any ritual for relaxation (meditation, yoga, reading,etc) before sleeping works. However, getting to sleep isn't as much of a problem as staying asleep for 7 hours for a restful night.
I find falling asleep quickly gets harder and harder as i age. A warm shower helps me, as does gentle stretching. And a lavender scented oil diffuser in my bedroom makes a really big difference.
I like to snuggle up with my book club read and a cup Of Sleepytime tea!
I have a buck wheat hull pillow. Actually I have two but my daughter has confiscated the second. It provides great support and I can lay it over my eyes when I awake with a migraine. I take it everywhere. I truly can not sleep without it.
My favorite sleep-aid is the NapForm® Eye Mask with BioSense® Memory Foam from Brookstone. It's the softest, most comfortable eye mask ever, and blocks out all the light. Highly Recommend it!
Since I have a hard time getting to sleep, I usually turn on some soft music that will lull me into sleep.
When I don't sleep enough, I feel like my whole day is ruined! When I want to settle down and de-stress at night, I love to spray Aveda's Lavender Fleurs Oil (diluted with some water) onto my pillows. It relaxes me and triggers my brain for SLEEP :) It's also great to sprinkle into a nice bath! Multi-purpose & Highly recommended!
Oh yeah ill try these I don't get good sleep with my 3 month old and my giant of a husband taking up the whole bed!!
I like to read in bed for about a half hour or till my eyes are too heavy to stay open and then I turn out the lights. We have a foam mattress and pillows so we are nice and comfy for sleep. This time of year we have a nice thick down comforter too and it helps us stay nice and warm.
I am a very nervous person, so at night is when my mind starts to think about all I have to do the next day. So I try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up close to the same time every day so I stay on a schedule.
I always set aside at least 15 minutes to read and unwind before heading to bed. Also I need "white noise" so I have a fan in my room that drowns out noise and also makes the room cooler which seems to help with sleeping too.
I keep a regular schedule. Eat well. And walk 45 min 5 day days a week !! I still wake uo on somedays feeling tried !! I tried of being tried !! Next plan...is looking in to a new mattress.or............ Hoping in winning this one !! Thank you !!
I like to take a warm bath then turn out all lights and tv. I then get under my soft warm blanket and my dog Sara snuggles up and I then count my blessings. Really helps