Good Sleep & Healthy Aging
Did you know that sleep is just as important as eating, drinking, and breathing? That’s why this month’s Pillar of Successful Aging is all about SLEEP!
Getting a good night’s sleep is a crucial part of taking care of ourselves. Sleep helps us to recharge and prepare us for the days ahead. Getting enough shut-eye can mean the difference between a sick, tired, foggy, unfocused, life and one where you feel vibrantly healthy and fully tuned into the world around you.
Sleep is a regular part of our body’s maintenance and repair. Our brains are constantly working throughout the day as we are ‘go-go-going’ all day long. When we sleep, that’s also when our brain gets a break. The quality of your sleep matters too. If our bodies aren’t fully shutting down for the night, we might feel restless the next day. Here are some simple things you can do that might help with the overall quality of your sleep:
- Get the right pillow! Having the right kind of pillow matters. Have you ever woken up stiff and kinked in the neck… that’s probably because of your pillow. Maybe it’s too hard, maybe it’s too soft. It’s different for everyone.
- Unwind and relax before bed. When we intentionally unwind from our busy day we can get to sleep quicker and easier. Whether it’s a hot bath or a cup of tea, getting ‘ready for bed’ can prepare us for a good night’s sleep. This includes taking a break from our phones right before bed.
- Find your own routine. If we go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day, we begin to form our own internal clock. Healthy sleeping habits over time can leave us feeling better rested overall.
There are many benefits to getting a good night’s rest. It helps us to stay focused. When we don’t get enough rest each night, it’s hard to direct our attention to things that really matter. If we’re constantly tired throughout the day we tend to doze off and not really engage with the world around us, to the fullest. It fights off sickness. Without sleep, our bodies and minds wouldn’t have the strength to fight off germs. Regulating your sleep pattern and getting quality shuteye will help to keep your immune system strong. It is stress-reducing. When we are overworked and over-tired, somehow those little tasks can become huge challenging obstacles for us, and our stress levels go through the roof. And lastly, Sleep puts us in a better, more positive mood. It seems like when we have a crappy night of sleep, our days often mirror that as well. Waking up and feeling fully rested, starts our day off right and everything seems to fall in line.
In conclusion, sleep is just as important as breathing and eating, and it’s crucial to our overall health. We each need to find what works best for us when it comes to a night routine. Maybe soft music and tea before bed will help to wind down, for others it might be a hot shower and a good book. Try new things to find what works best for you to get that heavenly sleep we all need and deserve.
Sweet Dreams!
Stages of Sleep & A Good Night Sleep with Memory Foam | MyEssentia.ca
