Six Reasons to Prioritise Your Beauty Sleep
If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, join the club. To be a fully functioning machine, our bodies need on average 7-8 hours of sleep a night which isn’t always easy to fit in. Work, shift patterns, family, healthcare worries and other life issues often get in the way and, before we know it, our routines have gone out the window and with it our sleep too.
With mental health and general wellbeing often being tested, many think sleep is the last thing we should be concerned about right now - so does it matter? In short, yes! We need our sleep, and here’s why.
Battery charger
It goes without saying that hitting your recommended hours sleep each night gives you the physical energy to do what you need to do throughout the day, whether that’s working, exercising, tackling the housework, driving, caring for someone, or just getting through your To-Do List.
Flu Fighters
Studies show that not getting enough sleep can impact our immune system. Becoming sleep deficient can lead to a drop in the antibodies needed to fight off common illnesses like colds and flus.
Happy heart
According to the British Heart Foundation, getting 6-8 hours of sleep a night is the optimum time for heart health. A lack of sleep can increase the risk of heart disease, lead to an increase in blood pressure, as well as affect lifestyle choices such as craving sugary foods to stay awake, which can also affect our hearts.
Mindset adjustment
It’s a vicious circle – worrying can stop you from sleeping, while not sleeping can make you worry. Getting the right amount of sleep can help you feel less anxious, less stressed, and more able to tackle the day. You’ll feel more positive, motivated and less irritable, plus your concentration levels will be on point!
Bring your ‘A’ game
Regular sleep patterns can help you stay focused throughout the day and help to stop you from getting easily distracted. Getting much-needed sleep can help you perform better in the workplace, be more motivated, and be able to concentrate on tasks you need to complete.
R ‘n’ R
Rest, repair and recover! Sleep allows the body and mind to rest. By heading into a dream state, your body and mind can not only rest, but also organise those thoughts from the day, and turn them into memories too.
Top tips to improve your sleep
- What works for one person, may not work for others, but try out some of these ideas and see if they help you get a better night’s sleep.
- Exercise is a great way to help improve your sleep quality as well as your physical health, just remember, not within an hour of going to bed!
- Try yoga or meditation – this can help relax your mind and body
- Switch off – blue light from devices makes your body feel like it is daytime
- Get in a routine – this can help your body know when it is time to ‘switch off’
- Cut back on caffeine – see if you can avoid that afternoon coffee or switch to decaf
- Ease off the alcohol – this can negatively affect your sleep hormones and disrupt your sleep patterns
- Take a bath or warm shower – this will help you relax
- Unload your thoughts – writing down a list of your priorities for the next day can help organise your mind before sleeping
- Think positive – a simple trick of remembering something that you’ve achieved that day can help you drift off peacefully