Sleep Tips to Help You Celebrate Sleep Awareness Week 2019
There’s a “holiday” for just about everything. (National Beer Day, a personal favorite, is on April 7, by the way.) Some of these celebrations are mostly for fun, both others have far-reaching mental and physical health ramifications. And one of the latter is just around the corner. March 10 to 16 is Sleep Awareness Week.
Begin with Sleep
The theme this year is “Begin with Sleep.” As in your day always begins with sleep. Is your sleep quality starting you off on the right foot? “Begin with Sleep” is a solid reminder that sleep is the foundation for everything we do. Sleep deprivation makes your clumsy, dulls your brain, makes you look older, and — get this — increases your risk of dying. So, yeah, some quality time in bed is key.
The National Sleep Foundation says that adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. Are you getting enough? Whether you’re having a hard time crawling under the covers at a reasonable hour or are laying there counting sheep for a frustrating amount of time, these sleep tips can help.
Get on a schedule. Your body wants you to sleep. And it even has a built in mechanism — your circadian rhythm — that helps you fall asleep and wake up easily. The trick is you have to go to bed and get up at the same time every day (yes, even weekends) to get your circadian rhythm to find its, well, rhythm. Start making a habit and your sleep could be transformed.
Give up screens. The blue light from screens is stimulating. So much so that your brain needs some time away from it to shift gears and get ready to power down. Steer clear of your phone, tablet, and TV for an hour before bed to make it easier to get into dreamland. Or, at the very least, turn on Night Shift.
Get moving. It might seem a little counterintuitive to use activity to support sleep, but exercise is actually huge in getting the zzzs you need. A study showed that it only took people who exercised regularly half the time to fall asleep.
Go natural. Move over, Nyquil. Natural supplements and essential oils can help you get quality sleep. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep, try melatonin or magnesium. And support your restful routine by using lavender essential oil at bedtime. You can spritz it on your pillow or dab it on your wrists.
Here’s to Sleep Awareness Week 2019! Armed with these tips, you’re ready to celebrate in style. And, hey, who doesn’t like an excuse to crawl into bed and just relax?