How many times have you heard, or maybe even said, “you’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep!” This may be true; however, sleep statistics prove many of us have issues with a good night’s sleep.
- 70% of us have trouble sleeping.
- 31% of us have trouble staying asleep
- 24% of us don’t have enough time to sleep (what?!)
- 18% of us have trouble falling asleep
- 31% of us have fallen asleep on the job
- 51% of us wake up 1 – 3 times a night
Some of these numbers are incredible! Sleep is VERY important. Not getting enough:
- Puts you at risk for obesity
- Prevents the release of hormones that regulate body processes
- Is associated with high blood pressure, diabetes and depression
- Decreases memory function – the brain cannot rebuild and strengthen its circuits
For better health, try to catch your Zs at night! Practice better sleep hygiene with some of these tips:
- Turn off your electronic devices about an hour before bed. If you use your cell phone as an alarm clock, put it as far away from your head as you can – on a dresser or under the bed.
- Set your thermostat lower for optimum sleep. If you are like me, and don’t want to go to bed cold, or wake up cold, invest in a “smart” thermostat.
- Take a nice, warm, relaxing bath before bed. Add some Epsom salts and/or lavender essential oil (we carry these, if you need them!).
- Read a good book – an actual book, not an electronic reader.
- Write in a journal. This can be anything – your daily activities, gratitude, funny things that happened today – make it your own. Write it down and forget about it.
Try creating a ritual at bedtime that signals your body it is time to sleep! Your body will love it and so will you. And you’ll be able to erase some of those above statistics.
To Your Vitality!