I know it's the holidays and there are parties to attend, gifts to wrap...but we are changing our habits for a healthy 2014 before the ball drops in Time's Square.
Many of us are sleep deprived. It's easy to get caught up in a TV show late at night, or a good book. Stress, worries, children, our work load.....all keep us from sleeping. But sleep is crucial to good health. Crucial!
Our basic physiological operations need to rest. Our brain needs to 'reboot' as it were. A good night's sleep will improve memory function, our creativity, and make you a more positive person to be around. Physically, our body needs rest. Your muscles, joints, circulatory system needs to regenerate. Nerve cells need regenerating. With lack of sleep comes immune issues. You are more susceptible to the colds and flus going around. And, as we get older...yes, we are getting older....sleep is essential to our proper aging. A proper nights rest keeps our chances of diabetes at bay. Cancer cells love stress. Our hearts need rest, or they will blow, Captain. (Sorry 😊)
Many of us are moms and dads. Do you remember when junior was born? Do you remember those sleepless nights, those restless days? Did you know that you will die from sleep deprivation before you die from starvation? Scary.
So how do we do it? How do we get enough sleep? We need a good 9 hours!
Here are some suggestions.
If you have to see Jay Leno, record it. Watch it the next day. Please don't sleep with the TV on all night. Put your phone in another room. Those constant notification bleeps are annoying. Sleep in a totally dark room. If there is a computer in your room, pull a towel over it. Blue light emissions and LCD lights mess up your circadian rhythm. Avoid alcohol. Keep you room cool. Go to bed an hour earlier than you have a habit of doing. Try not to eat right before bed. Have a night time routine...like you did with your kids. Meditate before you go off to sleep.
Nap! Yes, a good nap will refresh you. I take one every day. It's amazing how much better I feel because of that nap.
So, go to sleep!
List recap:
Junk your kitchen junk....Remove that bad food like products.
Walk for 15 minutes every day
Purge 10 things every day
Add one (or more) vegetable to your meals
Meditate - you can incorporate this into your bedtime routine
Look into that mirror and say I LOVE YOU
Try to get 9 hours of sleep...nap
Wow! They say it takes 21 days to change a habit. Can we do it in 16?
Tomorrow we are going to start replacing the junk with eliminated with the good, clean stuff.
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