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!
I have a hard time staying asleep. I use new age music (find it at Target for less than $10) and a Lavender pillow spray from Bath & Body works. My monthly cycle has a tendency to make the situation worse during which I take a melatonin supplement. Works GREAT.
I shower before bed when I'm at my place, which helps wash off the day and grime. The next thing that really helps ensure a good night's rest is soft, comfy, smooth, relatively high thread count sheets. There is nothing better than crawling into bed on a luxurious feeling set of sheets. I spent years on 180 count kids sheet until I became and adult, got a real bed, and bought nice sheets for myself. It makes a world of difference.
A nice bubble bath always helps me calm down and get ready for bed!
I use white noise apps on my iphone to help me fall asleep. They're great for drowning out other noise and distract from non-stop thoughts. I personally like iRelax.
The first thing we looked at when trying for a good nights sleep because I have a bad back are the following: check your mattress for replacement we switched to a jamison and sleep so much beter now.also I got dr.scholl's orthotics for my shoes made a hue difference during the day and lesss pain at night. no caffeine before bed and no t.v. or reading (too stimulating for me) some light music with no words and a good shower I use lever 2000 for the clean feeling and it leaves your skin so soft also I use baby lotion or oil (lavender scented) it's so calming then I only sleep on egyptian cotton sheets now they stay cool and feel so good I use my fan at night to keep the room cool (my husband says like a freezer) lol and thats how this country girl gets her sleep on! :)
Shockingly enough this post came along at a time that I have been severely struggling with sleep. I go to bed too late and wake up late, feeling tired all day and still not going to sleep until late...mostly because I just don't feel ready for bed. I'm pretty sure it's combination of lack of vitamins and sitting around most of the day. I think I definitely have better sleep results when I'm exercising on a regular basis. Also, any time I am truly struggling to fall asleep reading a book has always helped...I often even fall asleep with the light still on and the book in my hands.
things that get me ready for bed is reading a book and turning off the tv and computer down for the night.
With two little ones I find sleep a luxury these days. We are just starting to get a good night time pattern again after baby #2. I will try there tips.
Sleep is very hard to come by the older I get. I am going to try some of these great tips and I love Lavender. I have a reed diffuser on my night stand. It really calms me. If I am lying awake in bed, the scent relaxes me enough to just enjoy the bed instead of it becoming my enemy