Exhausted from 2016? Start 2017 fresh!
Let’s have a moment of silence for all the stresses and chaos of 2016 – let them R.I.P. Time to start the new year by living out loud and focusing on us, especially when it comes to health and sleep.
The ball is almost ready to drop and the kisses ready to be smooched at midnight – the time has come to create your yearly resolutions. Year after year, do you find yourself making the same exhausting resolutions to get fit or stop snacking on junk food? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions are only successful 39% of the time. What’s your score for successful resolutions?
There’s a reason – or a few – why your resolutions are not making it past January. Maybe your goal was too complex or unrealistic. Or maybe you’ve been struggling to adopt healthy habits because you’ve been ignoring an essential pillar of good health: sleep. Like physical activity and healthy eating, sleep is crucial for optimal health.
More than 40% of us aren’t getting enough sleep and it’s drastically affecting our daily routine – never mind our ability to successful with our new year’s resolutions.
Grab your pen and write in these 5 resolutions for better sleep in 2017
5 resolutions for better sleep
1. Stick to your sleep routine, even on the weekend – When you get ready to go to the gym you need the right things. The right running shoes, the right playlist, some protein and a new routine. It’s difficult to make it through a workout without these things just like you can’t fall asleep without a mattress and favorite blanket. To help you plan a winning sleep routine, check this out. Check this out: Get Your Sleep Routine On
2. Ban gadgets from the bedroom – According to the National Sleep Foundation more than 85% of adults have at least one screen in front of them before bedtime, which can wake the brain up instead of preparing it for sleep. Disrupted sleep patterns can have negative implications for overall performance in everyday life and cause long and short term health issues. The simple truth is that our brains, bodies and sleep cycles are all affected when we bring our electronic devices to bed. Check this out: How Electronics in Bed Affect Sleep
3. Shut out the light – Too much light immediately before bedtime may prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep – falling asleep with lights on may not be the best thing either. Your brain is stimulated by the light, thinking it needs to be awake and functioning on levels similar to daytime. Needless to say, your brain needs downtime (also known as sleep) and an active brain doesn’t disengage well. Check this out: Light & Sleep
4. Avoid caffeine after 3 pm – Drinking coffee might be a great way to round off your evening meal or perk you up in the late afternoon, but it may disrupt your sleep later when you’re set to retire for the night. Consuming caffeine 3 and even 6 hours before bedtime can reduce total sleep time by more than 1 hour each night. Check this out: How Caffeine Affects Your Health & Sleep
5. Avoid a nightcap before snoozing – We’ve all experienced how alcohol can be a trickster, making you believe you have the greatest moves on the dance floor. The same can happen with sleep. Passing out after a night of drinking tricks you into believing you’re getting a better, deeper sleep, but you can often find yourself feeling as if you hardly slept at all. Going to sleep after a night of drinking disrupts the normal sleep process and can cause other side effects too. Check this out: Drinking & Sleep
2017 is upon us and you have a fresh chance to start over and maintain your healthy sleep routine or start a new one and get back on track. Beat the odds with our sleep suggestions and enjoy being on the winning side of the new year.
