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It is the new age of self-care, and sleep care is in! Sleeping has many health benefits, including anti-aging, healing, and stress reduction, but most of us still don’t get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted rest each night. Let’s discuss some ideas on “how to invest in your rest” today.

Our physical and psychological well-being are dependent on sleep just as much as eating healthy food and exercising. During sleep, your body and mind can recharge and repair. The act of sleeping is more of a necessity than a reward and by taking better care of your sleep, you can benefit from more restful habits.

What is sleep and why is it important?

We probably don’t need to explain what sleep is – we all do it! But here are a few of the many reasons why *quality* sleep is so important:

1. Boosts your immune system keeping you from getting sick
2. Helps prevent weight gain
3. Strengthens your heart and reduces the risk of heart disease
4. Improves your mood and reduces stress
5. Increases productivity and exercise performance
6. Improves concentration and memory

Sleep is when your body does all it’s important work like regenerating cells, healing from injury and illness, growing (for kids!), and builds your immunity.

It’s one of the most essential functions and yet, so many of us are not prioritizing it. Here’s your cue to start!

How to get a good quality night’s sleep.

Getting a good quality night’s sleep is easier than you think. Many of us have a blue-light addiction (*cough* put down the phone/laptop!) so it can seem difficult to fall asleep, but that is just because you’ve been stimulating yourself all day.

1. Start by winding down with 10 minutes of evening yoga. Here are 5 poses to help you sleep.
2. Turn on your bedtime diffuser blend. You can buy bedtime essential oil mixtures or create your own. For example, try 4 drops of lavender, 2 drops of cedarwood, and 2 drops of vetiver for a calming scent.
3. Journal night affirmations to release the day and end with gratitude. It’s a good idea to look at paper at the end of the day, whether this be journaling or reading, to help wind down from a day of blue light.

If you need to watch a screen before bed, invest in some blue light glasses that help block the rays that can stimulate our minds (making it difficult to get to sleep in the first place).

Takeaways

So many of our body’s faculties are impacted by sleep; start making it a priority! This type of self-care should be more common.

The information in this article is intended for your educational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health programs.