Stress is a fixture of our lives – some of it good, some of it strong enough to hurt us. You know the kind we’re talking about. That tightness that begins in your gut and travels to your fingernails and earlobes like an electric snake. It makes us snap at our loved ones and in some cases, leaves us sobbing and unable to make a rational decision.
Stress can also affect your health – and sleep health. If you’re stressed, your sleep suffers and suffering from sleep deprivation can lead to increased stress. If stress is a constant companion in your life, its side effects can be insidious, robbing joy from every corner of your life.
According to WebMD, “For most people, getting less than six hours sleep translates into a bigger sleep debt than they may realize. Over a two-week period, missing out on the recommended eight hours of nightly sleep adds up to two full nights’ sleep debt, one study found. If you’re averaging only four hours a night, your brain reacts as though you haven’t slept at all for three consecutive nights.”
“The best ways to reduce your overall stress is to get enough sleep (seven to nine hours a night for most people), eat healthful food, exercise, reach out to supportive pals, and focus on things within your control,” says Women’s Health Magazine.
Ummm, sure. If the answer was that easy, we’d all be stress-free and well-rested…
Chronic stress can make you feel like you’re in the middle of a never-ending marathon, causing adrenaline and cortisol rushes and a constant racing heart. Many of us rush through our days overloaded, overwhelmed and overstimulated but, to be honest, chasing a good night’s sleep is futile.
Sleep requires a slowing down, a quieting of the mind and body. So how do you slow down, de-stress and sleep better? There’s no one answer that will work for everyone but a few tweaks to your sleep schedule may help you slow your pace and catch a better night’s sleep.
If you’re ready for a new mattress, we’d love to help you find the right one for you. Visit our Find a Retailer page and we’ll locate a store close by where you can lie on our mattresses and talk to a trained sales professional.
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