WHAT’S YOUR SLEEP NUMBER?

As hard as I try, there are times when I don’t quite practice what I preach.  Yes I admit it I’m not perfect. My biggest weakness is with getting my recommended number of hours of sleep.  My sleep number is 7, give or take an hour depending on the circumstances.  How do I know this?  Well I know my body and when it functions best.  With 7 hours of sleep I wake up feeling refreshed, and like most individuals, after a good nights sleep I am more mentally alert and better focused, I perform better and my body looks healthier, 7 just works for me.   

As hard as I try over and over I miss my mark for many reasons.  Some beyond my control but most of the time the fault is all mine.  For one I’m a procrastinator so I end up working on something well into the evening, another reason is because I’m a night owl which does not fit my early morning schedule but mainly it’s because I’m like a kid in a candy store when it comes to life, wanting to try everything and afraid I’ll miss out on something.  Who needs sleep anyway?  You can sleep when you’re dead right? 

Wrong!

Along with eating healthy and exercising, sleep is a key component to a healthy lifestyle.  As far as getting adequate sleep, the recommended amount of hours for an average adult is between 7-9.  Get to know your body and what works for you and try to stick to that number.  But be careful, too much sleep can be just as bad as too little.

Since I miss my mark many nights I make sure I take a midday nap but nothing beats a good night’s sleep so I’m incorporating ways to improve my numbers. 

Here are some suggestions that may help you sleep better:

1.     Create a bedtime ritual and follow it daily.

2.     Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on your days off.

3.     Avoid caffeine and spicy foods close to bedtime and cut off eating a few hours before you go to sleep.

4.     Turn off computer, TV, social media or any other highly stimulating activity before bedtime.

5.     Use room darkening curtains or shades.

6.     Eat your lightest meal in the evening.

7.     Read, meditate, or take a relaxing bath, listen to soothing music or any other activity that relaxes you.

8.     Record TV shows to watch at a later date.

Sleep does a body good.  It is a crucial component in living a healthy lifestyle.  Turn of that TV, get off the phone, close that laptop and GET SOME SLEEP!

Nancy

NASM CPT

CrossFit L1

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