It’s August, and summer is in high gear. How are you doing with your resolution to take better care of yourself in 2014? Are you making strides in achieving a healthier you—mind, body and soul?
At Gurwin, we’ve resolved to help you make some small changes throughout the year that will help you achieve your goal, and we give you tips to help on the first Tuesday of the month to get you there. So far, we suggested you donate blood, add a little exercise, make small changes to your eating habits, reduce your stress, find time to volunteer, care for the skin you’re in and stay hydrated. This month, we focus on a resolution to rest.
With so much to do, how do we find enough time to rest? Sleep is one of the things that we are often willing to give up to fit in the rest of the things we have to do, but in the long run, that can hurt our health. In addition, many of us have trouble falling or staying asleep, which can be frustrating and unhealthy as well.
Sleep is an integral part of life—it gives us energy and allows us to function with our daily activities. Lack of sleep can be detrimental to our ability to perform our daily activities, as sleep allows our bodies to restore muscle growth and repair tissues. In addition, sleep plays a critical role in our ability to think and learn, and inadequate sleep has been shown to have a negative effect on a person’s memory.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, the number of hours of sleep we need is very individual. There isn’t an exact number, but somewhere between 6 and 8 hours is usually enough for a healthy adult.
If you’re one of those who just can’t fall or stay asleep, there are many things you can do to prepare yourself for a good night’s sleep, including:
- Keeping your bedroom free from clutter, free of distracting and stimulating phones and computers, free of excess light and cool (ideally, between 60 – 67 degrees);
- Drinking a warm beverage like milk or decaffeinated tea before you go to bed;
- Taking a warm bath;
- Doing a progressive relaxation technique where you squeeze and relax the muscle groups in your body from your feet up to your head;
- Using yoga meditation or closing your eyes and breathing while humming to yourself;
- Writing down on paper either lists of things you are thinking about or worries you might have so that your mind is clear;
- Quitting smoking—nicotine is a stimulant and can disturb your sleep.
A restful night’s sleep prepares us for a productive day ahead. Resolve to add “getting adequate sleep” to your to do list today!
