Better Sleep Habits: How Rest Is The Key To Looking And Feeling Better

Published on 20 March, 2019 | Holistic Therapy

     Sleep is one of the most underrated parts of our lives, lending us the ability to recharge our minds and bodies to prepare for whatever the day throws at us. Many of us aren’t getting enough of it, and sometimes what we do get is of pretty poor quality.

If you find that you’re feeling exhausted when you wake up or that you can’t get through the day without a mid-afternoon slowdown, think about your rest habits. Are you going to bed with the television on, or using your smartphone or computer before you lie down? Do you tend to eat meals later in the day or evening? These are all things that can contribute to poor rest, leaving you feeling sluggish and unprepared for the day ahead.

The good news is that you can easily make changes to your lifestyle that will help you rest easy. From creating a bedtime routine that will help you relax and prepare for sleep to adding certain foods to your diet that will help with digestion, there are several things you can do that will allow you to get to sleep without any issues, which will, in turn, help you look and feel better.

Here are a few things to think about in the process.

Optimize your bedroom for rest

The way your bedroom is set up can have a huge effect on whether or not you’re able to get adequate rest. From the paint color on the walls to the temperature of the room, there are many factors that can be adapted to your needs. Using calm colors–such as blues and greens–and adding blackout curtains, keeping the temperature regulated for your comfort, adding soft light, removing clutter, and keeping doors and windows closed can all help you relax for a better night’s sleep.

Get skin deep

Sleep affects many parts of our bodies, but many people don’t realize that it plays a big role in skin health. During the night when we rest, our skin changes temperature, muscles relax, and hormones are produced, all of which contributes to our skin’s elasticity and ability to rejuvenate. Start a bedtime regime that will allow you to relax before you lie down for the night, such as taking a hot shower and washing your face, and don’t forget to moisturize. Then, let sleep do the rest.

Get organized

Sometimes, it’s the things we know await us in the morning that prevents us from getting a good night’s sleep. Getting organized and preparing for the day ahead will help you relax and push away any anxiety you might feel, so think ahead for ways to make things easier. If you have children who go to school, prep the night before by laying out shoes and clothing, getting backpacks and lunches together, and signing agendas or putting homework into folders. The more you can do ahead of time, the less you’ll have to worry about as you’re lying in bed.

Eat better

Not only does the right diet help you sleep better, it will help you have more energy during the day as well. Foods like almonds, turkey, and fresh cherries are great for inducing restful sleep; stay away from red meat, fatty foods, and large meals close to bedtime, which can be difficult to digest and can raise your body temperature, in turn keeping you awake.

Better sleep habits can be hard to come by when you have a busy schedule or are dealing with stress or anxiety, but making a few small changes to your lifestyle can go a long way toward helping you rest easy. Create a sleep routine that will be easy to maintain; with a little motivation, you can help restore your mind and body.

Scource: Brad Krause