Sleep Like a Baby

Did you know that American adults  who were short sleepers (less than 7 hours per 24-hour period) were more likely to report 10 chronic health conditions compared to those who got enough sleep? (source) 

Insomnia is the most common sleep complaint. It occurs when you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep even though you had the opportunity to get a full night of sleep. 

Good sleep promotes good health, including brain health.  Sleep represents a third of every person’s life and it has a tremendous impact on how we live, function and perform during the other two-thirds of our lives. It is indeed as vital as the air we breathe and the food we eat.

Your behaviors during the day, and especially before bedtime, can have a major impact on your sleep. They can promote healthy sleep or contribute to sleeplessness. Your daily routines – what you eat and drink, the medications you take, how you schedule your days and how you choose to spend your evenings – can significantly impact your quality of sleep. Even a few slight adjustments can, in some cases, mean the difference between sound sleep and a restless night. Completing a two-week sleep diary can help you understand how your routines affect your sleep. Check out this Journal on Amazon, https://amzn.to/36w6pvH

Create a Healing Sleep Environment

The idea is to prepare your body for bed by preparing for sleep and establishing a bedtime ritual. Your circadian rhythm gets fooled by the artificial light from bulbs and devices suppressing our pineal gland’s production of melatonin and serotonin. Even though the body is exhausted the mind can be wide awake. There are ways we can enhance our environment:

• Turn off 70% of the lights in your house at least two hours before bed. Do not watch television or look at your devices or other electronics that emit light at least one hour before bed. Engage in quiet, relaxing activities. This encourages the hormone melatonin to be released which makes us feel sleepy. Avoid turning on any light during the night, including the bathroom. 
• Turn off the WIFI in the evening and sleep with your phone off or on airplane mode to avoid exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF’s). Current research suggests EMF’s influence brain activity during sleep
• If you must watch television or look at your devices within this time period, invest in a pair of blue light blocking glasses. Blue light, which is contained in sunlight, also radiates out of our devices and certain light bulbs. It disrupts the circadian rhythm by suppressing melatonin and increases the stress hormone cortisol, which has also been found to disrupt sleep. For the best blue light blocking glasses, check here. This highly rated pair for under $20.00 is available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Protection-Computer-Readers-Glasses-Shatterproof/dp/B00BQ7KBV4/?tag=dotdashvhealt-20&ascsubtag=4579815%7Cnfcf34d8d9d804f84b9101ca608c2100219 or for under $15..00 another budget friendly pair is available at Amazon, https://amzn.to/2U1AtN8
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• Invest in room darkening shades or blackout shades . If particularly sensitive to light, I would recommend getting yourself an eye mask. An eye mask may improve your sleep quality and duration by lessening the chance of a light disturbance. Light signals your brain that it is time to wake up. Check out this mulberry silk eye mask https://amzn.to/3hA0D2n or https://amzn.to/2UNOTQE
• Use ear plugs if you are easily awoken by sounds in the night.
• Try natural supplementation with magnesium  to promote relaxation 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Check out this book , The Power Of When , https://amzn.to/2T9he3Hby Dr. Michael Breus ,  presents a groundbreaking program for getting back in sync with your natural rhythm by making minor changes to your daily routine. Learn the best time to do everything — from drink your coffee to have sex or go for a run — according to your body’s chronotype. Michael J. Breus, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist and both a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 
• Boost your overall health by choosing organic and fair trade coffee supplemented with the benefits of mushrooms MEMORY, CONCENTRATION, FOCUS: Organic Lion’s Mane mushroom is a natural nootropic shown to support memory, focus & concentration; Recognized for its support of cognitive function, Lion’s Mane extract kickstarts your morning and helps with IMMUNE SUPPORT: has organic chaga mushroom, with antioxidant properties to support immune function & well-being; Plus organic rhodiola root, to help fight stress https://amzn.to/2TZfoD1   or try their Adaptogen Version , https://amzn.to/3yT2Cof  or pre and probiotics version https://amzn.to/36G2yMl

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