MAXIMIZING YOUR SLEEP QUALITY AND QUANTITY

It’s great to be energetic but keeping your energy level running at maximum isn’t always best. The kind of energy your body expends going to sleep and staying asleep is vital to your mental and physical health. The health of your sleep process can be measured in both quality and quantity. If your busy schedule doesn’t allow you to get a full 8-10 hours, there are still ways you can get the most out of your nights.

Turn off the Blue Light.
Blue light (light that doesn’t come from the sun) sends messages to your brain that tell you to wake up. Your computer, phone, and television are prime sources of blue light, and when used before bed can stunt the beginning of your sleeping process. Take a blue light hiatus before you go to sleep by reading or listening to a podcast.
Bonus points for those who invest in non-blue light lightbulbs, which color your walls with a very calming orange.

Scent Your Bedroom with Lavender.
Lavender had been proven to lower blood pressure and place us in a relaxed state. When used only at night, your body will start to perceive this scent as a message that it’s time for the heart rate to come down, and time to go to sleep.

Refresh Your Pillows Regularly.
Regular pillows should be replaced every six months, but the fancy foam kinds can last up to three years. Consider making your pillow(s) an investment for your head, or be sure to keep the feathers fluffed and new.

Get a Massage!
The American Massage Therapy Association has advised that massages can improve sleep health in people of all ages. Massage is a non-prescriptive option for insomnia and a reminder to keep wellness a priority for those who consider themselves pros at sleeping. When it’s late at night and you need a massage right now, don’t forget that you have hands, too. Kneading your temples, rubbing your third eye between the eyebrows or your abdomen clockwise, and combing through your scalp may provide a calming, sleep-generating mini-massage in the middle of the night.