Good Bed? Good Sleep!!

So with your new bed safely and happily in your bedroom, you are ever-ready to test it out. Night falls and you climb sleepily in between the covers. Within a few minutes, and with a small smile and a content sigh, you find yourself in dreamland.

But have you ever stopped to think about the actual benefits of sleep – the sleep that we all take for granted?

Or maybe you don’t take for granted; maybe you tend to dismiss even the idea of sleep because of stress or work. Have you thought about the implications of this?

Sleep Benefits

There are a bunch of emotional, intellectual and physical benefits of a good night’s rest.          

• Improves memory.
• Curbs the chances of inflammation and you are less likely to get ill, so it prolongs life-expectancy.
• Keeps your creative juices flowing and spurs your imagination.
• Gives you stamina and strength to reach the top of your game in sports and activities.
• Greatly improves your ability to concentrate and absorb information in school or studies.
• Sharpens your attention, helping you to focus on a number of important things including driving safely.
• Helps maintain a healthy weight and good figure.
• Lowers stress levels, helping you make better decisions in life.
• Keeps you in a good mood and counteracts feelings of depression.

So now you know the benefits of good sleep, but have you actually discovered the best way to obtain this sleep?

Here are some great pointers…

• Keep a structured sleep schedule. Make a decision on what time you are going to bed and what time you will be waking up in the mornings, and stick to it!! Take short afternoon naps to make up for any lost sleep time.
• Regulate your sleep-wake cycle naturally. Melatonin is a natural hormone found in the body controlled by light exposure and helps regulate this cycle. To boost melatonin turn off your TV and computer at night, change bright light bulbs, don’t read from a backlit device in the dark and make sure that your room is dark when you go to sleep. In the day, spend more time outside in sunlight, try not to wear your sunglasses too often and let natural light into your home and workplace.
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine by keeping noise levels down, keeping your room at a cool temperature, ensuring that your bed is comfortable and making your room as dark as possible.
• Eat healthily and exercise often. Exercise gives your body a satisfied, tired feeling and helps your fall asleep quicker. Avoid big meals, alcohol and caffeine right before bedtime.
• Manage anxiety and stress levels by consciously thinking about what you’re thinking about and not putting unnecessary pressure on yourself in terms of work, relationships or kids.
• And last but not least, make sure that you have the best bed for you!! Your mattress should give you good back support, be durable, be of the best quality and offer excellent comfort, all while suiting your specific preferences.