HOW DID YOU SLEEP?
Fitness is about so much more than moving the body and feeding it good nutrition. When I ask clients what they’d like more of in life, often the answer is “sleep.” We know there is an epidemic of sleep issues in the U.S. today. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three of us don’t get enough sleep.The CDC defines not enough sleep as anything less than seven hours over a 24 hour period. Experts say that teenagers need even more, eight to nine hours of shut-eye a night. The CDC also reports that a lack of sleep is tied to diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression.
HOW MUCH SLEEP DO WE REALLY NEED?
SOURCE: NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION
Now a recent study published in the journal Neurology (published in June 2017) found that there may even be increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease for folks who have trouble getting enough sleep.So what can you do?
LET’S RUN THROUGH A FEW TIPS FOR GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.
- Turn off electronics at least two hours before bedtime.
- Put your smart phone in another room. If you use it for an alarm, see if you can swap it out for an old school alarm clock.
- Cut the caffeine. Stop drinking caffeine after noon or play around with decreasing your caffeine intake by half and see if you sleep better.
- Wind down your mind. If you must watch television before bed, switch to a program that doesn’t get your emotions ruffled. Being angry or irritated can mess with the quality of your sleep.
- Limit alcohol. While alcohol is a depressant and can makes us sleepy, drinking before bed can also contribute to sleep disruptions.
MAY YOU REST EASY TONIGHT. SWEET DREAMS!
We are also here to help! If you’re ready for support or want more information on healthy sleep, drop us an email or give us a call at 877-293-9355 ext. 0!
– KELLEY COLIHAN ROBERTSON, E-RYT
