In a perfect world we would all get 8 to 10 hours of uninterrupted deep sleep every night but that’s not the reality for most of us with jobs, deadlines and families. Quality rest has a bigger impact on our overall health than we realize; it is far more impactful than just energizing us for the next morning. Even if a large quantity of sleep isn’t possible, you can make the hours you do get count and reap all the benefits of quality sleep.
WHY SLEEP IS IMPORTANT
It’s not just about being well rested; sleep provides an array of benefits. As you sleep, your brain is preparing for tomorrow. A good night’s sleep improves learning, problem solving and helps you make better decisions.1
STAGES OF SLEEP
Quality really matters when it comes to getting shut-eye. Have you ever slept 8 hours and not felt refreshed or took a 20 minute power nap and felt great? It all has to do with which stage of sleep you’re able to achieve. Here’s how to tell what stage of sleep you are in:
TIPS TO HELP YOU SLEEP
In fact, light is one of the most important external factors getting in our way of rest because it interferes with our internal clock.3 This can be from sunlight if you are trying to catch a nap during the day, or artificial light, if your partner is watching TV when you’re trying to catch shut-eye, or light pollution for us city dwellers.
If possible, try not to watch TV, use smart phones or tablets, within an hour of going to bed. This may be a hard habit to break (trust me, I’ve tried to use Pinterest and Facebook scrolling as a sleep aid but we all know how that goes). Try your best to kick this pesky habit. But in the meantime you can wean yourself off with some functional night time glasses that have a red tint to block out the blue called blublockers. Another great option is getting an app for your smartphone or tablet that act the same way as the blublocker glasses. They operate on a timer and naturally change the screen during nighttime hours.5
OAT BITES
Ingredients
Preparation
Combine ingredients in a food processor and pulse until a smooth paste is created. Roll into little balls and start munching.
TART CHERRY BALLS
Ingredients
Preparation
In a food processor, pulse cherries, almonds, and dates until they create a fine paste. Roll into quarter size balls.
We don’t always have control over the amount of rest we are able to get each night but we sure can take these easy steps to make it count.
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