Sleep is often overlooked as a very necessary factor in developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We only have so many hours in the day and we tend to sacrifice our body’s need for those zzzz’s to do all of the things that we think need to be done.
Lack of sleep can lead to a number of problems such as decreased immunity, health and happiness.
Small changes in your routine can help improve the amount and quality of sleep you need. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Drinking liquids
Avoid all caffeinated beverages at least six hours before your bedtime. If you are particularly sensitive to caffeine, try leaving even more time between your last intake. Yaupon, a newly popular plant used in teas contains a lot of caffeine, so make sure you know what you are putting in your body and when.
Drinking water is extremely important for good health but too much water just before bedtime is not a good idea. Try to drink most of your daily water earlier in the day and up to two hours before you go to sleep. This will ensure your bladder isn’t waking you up in the middle of the night.
Note that alcohol, nicotine and some medications can affect the quality of sleep you get.
Everybody Out
Developing proper sleep habits for everyone else in your family is just as important as your own.
Make sure kids get used to sleeping in their own bed and pets have their own space. Giving yourself the space you need and the less bodies in your bed to roll over and interrupt you will make sure that everyone sleeps through the night.
Turn Your Brain Off
Stay away from anything that works your brain up just before bed. Turn off your phones and tablets and opt for reading a light book instead. Journaling can also help your brain release thoughts that might keep you up through the night.
Natural Supplements
Getting into a good routine can be difficult if your body has become accustomed to a decreased amount of sleep hours. Using a natural supplement like Melatonin can gently help to get you back on track. Melatonin is a hormone that is released by your body that tells your body that it is time to sleep and helps to regulate your sleep patterns.
Vitafusion SleepWell is a gummy supplement made with Melatonin and is designed to help increase the total sleep time in people suffering from sleep restrictions or altered sleep schedules.
Each SleepWell gummy contains 2.5 mg of Melatonin, a hormone that is released by your body when the sun goes down or it gets dark, which then tells your body it’s time to sleep and helps to regulate your sleep pattern.
Vitafusion SleepWell, $9.99, are available at mass retailers across Canada. *To ensure this product is right for you, always read the label before use and consult a health care practitioner.
Disclosure: sponsored post
Sheri publishes, and writes at This Bird’s Day where she shares all of the thoughts in her head without the voices. Sticking mainly with content for Canadians, Sheri shares family stories, product information and anything that fits into her (and her family’s) daily activities.
