Ah, the beauty of a good night’s sleep. Healthy sleep habits make a big difference in your quality of life, how you feel the next day, and your looks. We all know that no matter how fun, joyous, and festive the holiday season is, we also pay for the extra frivolity of stress and lack of sleep. During the holidays, we tend to think more about our finances, spend time visiting with family and friends, eat and drink more than usual, and interrupt our daily routine. Spending more time on these activities generally translates into losing precious sleep.
The good news is that as the busy holiday season winds down, you can catch up on your sleep debt. Sleep debt is the difference between the amount of sleep your body needs and the amount you actually get. So how do you repay your sleep debt and feel like a rested person again?
• Stick to a Sleep Schedule: Going to bed and waking up at the same time most days helps to regulate your body’s natural clock.
• Avoid Naps: As much as you might be tempted to catch some snooze time during the day, a quick nap can energize you enough to make falling asleep at night difficult.
• Invest in a Comfortable Pillow and Mattress: The goal is to wake up from a restful slumber refreshed and ready to face your day. Using the wrong pillow or mattress can leave you with morning aches and pains.
Exercise Daily: The more you exercise and move during the day, the more your body will reward you at night with a good, solid sleep.
• Don’t Eat or Drink Too Close to Your Bedtime: Stimulants such as caffeine, spicy food and large meals can cause discomfort and indigestion, making it hard to sleep. If you can, avoid eating large meals 2 to 3 hours before bedtime.
• Lighting: Dim light in the evening helps your body go into its natural sleep cycle. Exposing yourself to more fluorescent light or sunlight in the morning will keep your circadian rhythms in check and help you wake up.
We all yearn to wake up rested and relaxed, ready to start our day. Not only does solid sleep help you stay healthy, but it does wonders for your beauty regimen. Try to go to bed when you are tired, don’t fight it. If possible, tack on an extra hour or two of sleep a night. Sleep does a body good, and your mood, energy level and youthful appearance will thank you.
Recuperate from the holidays with satisfying sleep.
Catch those z’s and snooze to your heart’s content. Your body and mind will reward you!
Nancy Mangano is an American beauty/fashion/style influencer, fashion journalist, screenwriter and author of the Natalie North murder mystery book series. Visit Nancy on her global online fashion/style/beauty magazine Strutting in Style! at https://nancymariemangano.com, her Facebook page Nancy Mangano at https://www.facebook.com/nancymmangano/ Twitter @https://twitter.com/nancymangano and her author website http://www.nancymangano.com
