I wanted to start off my blog with one of the cornerstones of my health success. Without a good night’s sleep all other odds seem to be stacked against me. It only takes one night of sleeplessness and my body craves sugar and my mood is thrown off. It’s the master controller of my reality. For years I was trying to figure out my autoimmune disease, but it wasn’t until I could start to sleep through the night that things improved for me. Whatever is keeping you awake, you have some power to reign in your sleep routine.
Get sunlight in the morning, within two hours of waking up. Natural sunlight is the most potent form of light therapy. When you get bright light in the morning it can help you feel more alert during the day and helps you to feel sleepy in the evening and fall asleep earlier. I like stacking sunlight with other things- taking a walk with my dog and eating breakfast outside are ways to get this in without it taking more time in your morning.
When we’re in sync with the solar day, our body is serving different functions and we can not escape Circadian rhythms. Our hormones, digestion and moods are synced up with the 24 hour cycle. We try to mess with this pattern with artificial lights. But this is such a relatively recent invention our DNA hasn’t quite caught up. Give yourself just 30 minutes before you go to bed without blue light. Fill that time with something you love to do that helps you wind down. This may be a good time to read a book, enjoy the space you’ve created or connect with a loved one.
Blocking out any ambient light may also help your sleep quality. This may seem obvious, but don’t fall asleep with the TV or other electronic device on. Make it as dark and cozy as possible.
Have you noticed how the temperature in your house can affect your sleep? Even though I prefer to wake up to a warm cozy house, sleeping in a colder environment helps me sleep more soundly through the night.
My last tip: try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time. Once you get in a routine your body will repay you greatly. Increased energy will spill into every aspect of your life. Sleep regenerates your skin, keeps your immune system strong, supports healthy weight, cleanses your brain of toxins and helps you wake up feeling refreshed and able to achieve your goals.
I hope this helps you. Getting good sleep has become the foundation of everything good in my life. I love this magnesium supplement by Moon Juice called Magnesi-Om. Along with the above tips, this has improved my ability to get deep and REM sleep and stay asleep. Next week I’ll let you into my morning routine.
Have a great week and get some sleep.