Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just for beauty-sake. It’s for you.
“You-time,” is a necessity, and to many, a luxury. Always in high demand, but always in seemingly low supply. You can blame the kids, the weather and while we’re at it – why not the economy? But the reality is—you can’t get that extra hour or two back once it’s gone (not even if you’re armed with a crackberry and a pot full of that magical Starbucks’ brew).
Companies know this all too well. In fact, many products never fail to capitalize off of this concept. Consider Nintendo Brain Age, Scratch n’ Win lotto tickets or even KitKat chocolate bars– all of which promise an “escape” of sorts, even if for a fleeting moment. But they can’t successfully recharge your mind and body, increase your beauty, nor provide any proven long-term health benefits.
Sleep can. Studies prove it and doctors promote it. But there’s no magic number. According to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers who observed more than 1,200 Japanese patients with high blood pressure, found that getting less than 7.5 hours of sleep per night increases the risk of stroke or heart attack.
And even if you don’t have high blood pressure, Doctors have linked sleep deprivation to a number of health problems in addition to heart disease and high blood pressure, including diabetes and obesity.
So instead of incurring more stress this holiday season by spending your time, money and thoughts on gimmicks and gooey treats—why not squeeze in some more “you time” by catching some extra “zzz’s”?
More sleep = more “you time” = you win.
Here’s how: (These are the steps that you probably know you should take, but don’t – ie. A “kick-in-the-pants-list.”)
Step One:
Avoid caffeinated beverages in the afternoon or evening and if it’s not asking too much, chocolate. You may also want to avoid scheduling your workout too close to bedtime so your body has time to recover from the adrenaline and post-workout endorphins.
Step Two:
Get everything off your mind before you get into bed. Pack your lunch, place everything you need for the next day in one spot, and write a list of all the things you tell yourself to remember but never can because you were too stubborn or lazy to write them down in the first place. When you wake up, the list will be quicker than your brain—and you can sleep during the 15 additional minutes it would have taken you to remember those things!
Step Three:
Accept that it takes time for your body to adapt to a new schedule. So just like when you train a child, repetition is key. For example, if getting a minimum of seven to eight hours means you have to be asleep by 10 p.m., you should be snuggled up in bed by 9 p.m. Still can’t fall asleep? You may read anything unrelated to work, learning or the economy. The point is to shut most of your brain down. Dreaming is optional.
Finally, good luck, sleep well, and perhaps even if you don’t look younger in the morning, you’ll feel rejuvenated!
