If improving your health is one of your goals for this year, we have one essential piece of advice for you: Get more sleep.
Many of you tell us how hard it is to get enough rest or sleep soundly, which is why we’ve written in the past about how infrared red light sauna can help with chronic fatigue.
Many Americans are lucky if they get six hours of sleep a night, which falls way short of the seven- to nine-hour ideal. (Can we all agree that constant sleep deprivation isn’t something to brag about?!).
Why sleep matters.
- It helps our bodies recover and rebuild physically
- Sleep refreshes our brains from daily stresses
- When we sleep enough, we feel more optimistic and are more resilient when things are challenging
- Sleep boosts immunity, which helps us fight disease
- Quality sleep contributes to healthier hormonal levels.
- Sleep deprivation is dangerous when you’re driving or operating equipment.
- Sleep deprivation impedes impulse control, which may result in poor decision making in any area of your life.
- Sleep deprivation often leads to overeating in an attempt to gain more energy through food.
If you want to feel better, you need to get adequate sleep. Here are some tips to help:
- Change your schedule and make sure you’re calling it a night early enough so you have a shot at getting seven to nine hours of shut-eye (this might mean a change in your social life or TV/gaming time)
- Turn off electronics at least one hour before bedtime because those screens activate parts of your brain and make it more challenging to get that restorative sleep your body needs. (Pro-tip: blue lights from screens will disrupt your sleep)
- Make sure your bedroom is suitable for sleeping – dark (some people wear an eye mask), quiet (use white noise if you have to dull ambient sounds) and cool (not hot or too cold)
If you regularly have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, try:
- Infrared red light sauna services because red light therapy is proven to promote relaxation, healthy metabolism and relieve stress, both of which contribute to better sleep (it also helps to heal inflamed tissue and alleviates headaches and sinus problems)
- Scheduling regular massage services because therapeutic touch releases all kinds of feel-good hormones and combats stress-inducing cortisol, all of which may help you sleep more soundly
- Enjoying a hot bath or even an infrared sauna session a few hours before bed helps to relax your body (the temperature drop when you get out signals your body to slumber.)
- With the approval of your healthcare provider, try Cannabidiol (CBD derived from cannabis) to help with pain management, anxiety, and insomnia
- Emptying your bladder right before bed (and don’t drink any fluids – especially not caffeine or alcohol – two hours before bedtime)
- Reading something uplifting
- Establishing a consistent bedtime routine so your body falls into a rhythm of sleep and waking (this takes time and won’t happen immediately)
Your health and well-being are important to us. Contact us to book infrared red light sauna, massage, or discuss other services and products that will help you achieve a rejuvenating night of sleep.