Get some sleep: We all know sleep is important, and how bad we can feel without it. Yet for some reason we push ourselves to the limit, survive on very little, and wear the lack of it like a badge of honour. Our body and mind need to rest and recover from the day we have just had, and prepare for the day ahead. Whist we sleep, our blood pressure and heart rate drops, our hormones are re-balanced, our immunity is boosted, and our body gets to work on healing and repairing itself - for example our cells, muscles, blood vessels, and heart get the tlc they deserve. Our brain in particular has time to have a good clean out - cerebral fluid from our spinal column is able to be pumped more quickly to our brain & 'flushes' waste products away, like a nighttime shower! It also has chance to strengthen and build new neural pathways, helping us to maintain information, and improve concentration, memory, and decision making skills. This is very important when we have a lot on, a lot to remember, and too much to juggle! So you can see that by not getting enough sleep - the good things that should be happening don't, and we become more and more deprived, in all senses of the word!
Body clock Vs alarm clock... We have not always needed an alarm clock in order to drag ourselves out of bed - we do have a clever built in internal body clock that keep us in check; also known as our cicadian rhythm. Our circadian rhythm is a 24 hour cycle, that is influenced by light/dark, our sleep/wake patterns, our eating patterns, and the communication between our brain, organs, and the hormones and chemicals they release. We are a well oiled machine that responds well to routine and has biological processes timed to meet our daily demands. If we therefore eat at different times every day - our digestive organs have to keep up and do their job at different times of the day, when maybe they don't want to! If they are expecting food, but then have to wait to do their jobs, so when they do get food, they may not be as efficient as they should be; that can make us feel sluggish. If we go to sleep and/or wake up at different times every day - this too puts our bodies under stress to fire up or wind down when they may not want to. This can end up with us laying in bed wide awake trying to force sleep, or not able to get up in the mornings. If we take the time to try and re-balance ourselves - by eating regularly and getting some decent sleep, they would go a long way in starting to restore our natural body clocks, and our bodies would love us! sleep hygiene... This is a thing!
Sleep hygiene is a term used to describe habits and pracitices that are conducive to sleeping well on a regular basis. If you have trouble sleeping, have a go, and try to stick to the following:
I have grown to love bedtime, my bedroom, and my bed - I have also grown to love sleep (after years in hospitality they were all things I was not familiar with!). They are all such beautiful things! Treat yourself! sleep is such a treat, welcome it with open arms, and make time for it in your busy lives. It should not be ignored. Listen to your body, go to bed when you are tired, and take naps if you are able. Why deny yourself the luxury of sleep? I can think of no reason - and if you still are not convinced watch this guy - Russell Foster, a neuroscientist (just not whilst you are in bed - turn off electronics...NOW!)
2 Comments
6/2/2025 08:02:53 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed this blog thanks for sharing.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorEmma is passionate about promoting good health, and likes to keep things simple. She enjoys yoga, meditation & being outdoors, yet likes to indulge in coffee, wine & cake - Everything in moderation! |