Better Sleep is Your Answer to a Better Life
"Every night is a new start to better sleep!" -Mister Sandman-
Did you get your 8 Hours of sleep last night? You've probably heard that phrase before. But why? Why are we constantly being told to get 8 hours of sleep? Is 8 hours even sufficient for us to feel rested? What if I don't get 8 hours of sleep? What if I sleep more? In reality, 8 hours is more of a myth than a reality, so let's discuss the real numbers.
As we age we progress through different biological changes of life; our sleep is just one of those changes. As infants we need between 12 - 16 hours of sleep, as toddlers 10 - 12 hours, children and teenagers need at least 9 - 11 hours of sleep to be fully rested, and most adults need 7 - 9 hours. If we become more aware of what our bodies are telling us, we'll start to understand that "8 hours of sleep" is more of a general guideline.
By using this guideline we can begin to PRIORITIZE sleep as an important and necessary part of a healthy and balanced life.
Make SLEEP a PRIORITY
For many of us, sleep is always on our minds but we make it last on our list of priorities. If we begin to prioritize sleep as much as we prioritize our work, meal, exercise, and recreational schedules, we will improve our ability to feel our best during non-sleep times.
Schedule your SLEEP
Humans are creatures of habit as well as controlled by a 24 hour "clock" known as circadian rhythm. Setting consistent bed and wake times helps us be more in sync with our circadian rhythm.
Find your RHYTHM
When you start listening to your body and setting consistent bed and wake times, listen to what your body is telling you. Are you tired when you lie down to go to sleep? How long does it take to fall asleep? Do you feel like you could sleep longer in the mornings? Are you waking up often during the night? Keeping track of simple bedtime routines and daytime activities helps you understand your body better and optimize your time when you're asleep. Follow this
link to start your own
10 Day Sleep Journal to help you better understand your own bedtime and sleep activities.
Don't STRESS
There is way too much stress in life to worry about it at bedtime. If you're having difficulties falling asleep at bedtime, don't stress about it. Get out of bed and engage in a relaxing activity away from screens, bright lights, and loud noises. When you feel tired, try going back to bed. The best approach to falling asleep is letting it happen naturally.
If you're ready to take the next step to better sleep, FOLLOW ME and start a new journey to healthy and restful sleep.