Are you waking up groggy as you hit the snooze button again and again before walking slowly to the coffee maker? Do you need a few cups of coffee to get your body and brain in sync? Today I’ll give you some applicable tips on how to get restorative sleep.
Fatigue is horrible.
However, that’s how most of us start our mornings. Not rested and not revived. Wishing we could get “just another hour” of sleep.
If this sounds like you, read on.
The quality of your sleep is affected by many factors. It isn’t just how much you sleep…but how deeply you sleep and how rested you are when you wake up the next morning.
We all know what a lack of sleep feels like.
It makes us feel a little irritable.It makes our thinking foggy and makes it harder to focus and accomplish tasks at work. And, it makes our physical bodies fatigue easily while making us feel weak and even imbalanced.
Deep and restorative sleep is the key to warding off disease, balancing hormones, boosting immunity, regenerating our brains and muscles, and even the key to not storing excess weight.
Just like anything you want to succeed at in life…Preparation is EVERYTHING.
Preparing for a good night’s sleep should start before you hit the pillow and set your alarm.
Here are a few tips on how to get restorative sleep so that you wake up refreshed and ready to take on the next day!
1. Make your bedroom a perfect sleep sanctuary. Use room darkening shades, and splurge on comfy sheets and pillows.
2. Turn off all tech devices about 45 minutes before you hit the bed.Our brains stay “on” for about 45 minutes after you turn off tech devices…so let your brain calm down and unwind.
3. Drink some calming tea with chamomile and read a real book or magazine.
4. Do some slow stretching as you practice deep and slow calming breaths. Deep relaxing breaths will slow heart rate, lower blood pressure and prepare your body for rest.
5. Turn your thermostat down to between 65 and 68 degrees F. If you’re chilled, sleep with socks on, or another blanket. Sleep studies show that this is the perfect temperature that the body and brain need to restore and refresh.
6. When you finally get into bed, try to continue deep and slow methodical breathing. may not be one for meditation, but this is the perfect time to practice mindful thinking.
Imagine your favorite and most calming place. It may be a hammock slowly swinging in the shade, or laying on the beach listening to the waves…whatever your happy place is…go there in your mind as you calmly drift off to sleep leaving the cares of the day behind you.
Your sleep is one of the most important factors in living with a strong immune system and body that wards off disease while preparing you for the challenges and energy needed for the next day…including the rest of the days of your life.
Plan for restorative sleep, and may you have sweet dreams tonight!
Sharing ways for us to live long and strong in bodies we love for life!
Coach Dawn