Sleep - We Need It - We Love It - Here’s How to Get It
Are you falling asleep at your desk? Have trouble remembering things? Feeling a little crabby lately? Or perhaps you’ve been getting colds a little more frequently…Are you getting enough sleep?
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends seven to nine hours of sleep a night for most adults. If you’re not getting it, you might be feeling a little rundown, achy, crabby, forgetful, I could go on…
Here’s a rude awakening…The NSF reports that the majority of adults aren’t getting near enough sleep, only averaging 6.9 hours of sleep a night for 18- to 54-year-olds. The NSF also found through surveys that about half of Americans report frequent difficulty sleeping. The amount of sleep you get (or don’t get) can affect your mood, behavior and your ability to perform tasks. Think about it, you really don’t want to fall asleep while you’re driving a car. Not getting your “beauty sleep” can take a significant toll on how you look and feel.
If you find yourself nodding off or longing for a nap, the National Sleep Foundation recommends a number of things that you can do to make sure you get the rest that you need.
- Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol.
- Give up smoking. Nicotine, like caffeine, is a stimulant and can make sleeping difficult. Yet another reason to quit smoking.
- Don’t eat or drink too much close to bedtime.
- Lower the volume. Noise, from loud neighbors and early morning traffic to sleeping with a snorer, can disturb sleep.
- Exercise. A brisk afternoon walk can be conducive to sleep — strenuous exercise late in the evening could have the opposite effect.
- Establish a regular bedtime and wake-up schedule. Sleeping late on weekends won’t make up for too little sleep during the week. A consistent sleep schedule is more effective.
- Too cold or too hot? Lumpy mattress makes you grumpy? Make sure you have found the right comfort zone for your sleeping needs, from the temperature of your bedroom to the condition of your mattress and pillows.
One MAJOR factor that can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep is light. Whether you work at night and have to sleep during the day, have a partner that likes to read (or worse, watch TV) in bed, have a roommate that stays up later than you do, all this light can keep you from falling into the deep sleep you need to feel rested.
For a better night’s sleep or catching a daytime nap, make it lights out with a sleep mask. A sleep mask is both a sleep and beauty aid. You might think that a sleep mask is something for movie stars of the ‘40’s but it really does work. One that works great is the new Sleep Pretty in PinkÔ Sleep Mask by HearosÒ. It creates a total blackout experience, there’s extra padding that makes it really comfy (and helps avoid puffy eyes). The Sleep Pretty in Pink Sleep Mask has a recessed center so your eyelashes don’t hit against it and to allow for wearing eye creams or extended wear contact lenses. The mask has adjustable strap for a good, comfortable fit that avoids dreaded hair indentations. Take along a sleep mask too when you travel to deal with light on planes, in hotels and other unfamiliar sleep settings. The Sleep Pretty in Pink Sleep Mask comes in pink and is available online at $9.97 at www.sleepinpink.com.
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