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I've said it before and I'll say it again, the holiday season can be one of the most stressful times of year. You know what adds to stress? Lack of sleep. So don't be one to fall in the trap of not getting enough sleep this holiday season. And when you are sleeping make sure that you are sleeping deeply enough so that your body is able to recover.
According to the Washington Post, an analysis of nearly 10,000 adults found that those between the ages of 32 and 49 who sleep less than seven hours a night are significantly more likely to be obese. The study also found associations with other illnesses, including several reports from the Harvard-run Nurses' Health Study that has linked insufficient or irregular sleep to increased risk for colon cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Here are four natural ways to ensure that you are hitting the pillow hard enough:
- Make sure you reach the REM stage of sleep.
According to Sleep.Net, even if you are sleeping enough hours, if you don't spend enough time in deep and REM sleep stages, your body and mind will not be refreshed. Even in the absence of an obvious disorder, many things can disturb the quality and timing of sleep like medications, OTC drugs, alcohol, stimulant use, even your exposure to strong lighting. So skip the booze and don't drink too much coffee because even if you do sleep, you might not be allowing your body to recover properly. - Brew a cup of relaxing tea.
Mother Earth News suggests brewing a cup of tea made from relaxing, non-habit-forming herbs such as catnip (Nepeta cataria), which is a gentle sedative; chamomile (Matricaria recutita), which helps calm your nerves and sooth the stomach; or passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), a safe sedative that eases anxiety, worry, or an overactive mind. Read more about Snoozing Like a Baby, Without Sleeping Pills. - Skip the Coffee.
Even though it was mentioned above, it deserves more attention. Say no to too many cups of Joe. Coffee can bring immediate gratification. That's why Americans collectively drink more than 400 million cups of coffee each day. Fifty percent of the population drinks at least two cups a day and twenty-five percent of coffee drinkers consume about five cups daily. But coffee also promotes anxiety. It makes you constantly think about the next thing on your to do list so you cannot fall into a deep sleep. - Meditate before bed.
Sit with your feelings for a bit at least 15 to 20 minutes a day and eventually you will see a huge improvement in your sleep. Meditation helps you remember that it's really just your monkey mind taking over and keeping you from relaxing.
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Sleep Green, Sleep Better
Love green gadgets, fashion, and news? Get the latest from Planet Green's dynamic duo Suchin Pak and Daniel Sieberg on the G Word.
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