Tag Archives: sleep

Aug14

5 Self Care Tips To Remember

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5 Self Care Tips To Remember

There is nothing more important than looking after yourself, and we’re constantly being told that self care is the way to do it. Spend some time doing yoga and putting cucumber on your eyes, and you’ll be cured of all of your ills, right? Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but looking after yourself is still an imperative part of your health and happiness, and it gives you the boost that you need to carry on during rough patches.

But what simple self care tips can you carry with you, in order to make sure that you know how and when to take some time out? We’ve put together five here, for those seeking inner peace and well being.

Drink more water:

Okay, you heard it here first. Well, you probably didn’t. Drink. More. Water. Those three little words are what everybody needs to hear. Not only will it keep you hydrated (obviously) but it will also clear up your skin, clear out the junk from your body, and give you the energy that you need to be as great as you can be. Oh, and it’s practically the easiest thing in the world. Carry a water bottle with you at all times; you won’t regret it.

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Pexels Image

Just relax:

A lot of us don’t relax, because we don’t even know how to. Relaxing isn’t scrolling through your phone for hours or sitting there worrying about what you should be doing instead of relaxing. It’s really making an effort to chill out and to clear your mind of everything in order to do so. Work on letting things go, so that you can get to a place of total tranquility every once in a while.

Being able to fully relax takes practice – especially if you have anxiety. It’s all about finding that “just right” thing that works for you. Maybe it’s a hot cup of tea and reading a chapter of a new book. Or, it could be popping on your favorite feel good show and enjoying some delicious gummies from https://thehempdoctor.com/delta-9-thc/, allowing the THC to calm your nerves and put your body into a state of zen and relaxation. Explore different options and soon, relaxing will become something to enjoy instead of one more thing to stress over.

Sleep well:

One of the main things that you need to do if you want to look after yourself is to sleep well. Sleeping gives your body a chance to restore itself and it’s good for the ol’ mind, too. Check out an air conditioning store nearby so that you can get the perfect sleep temperature nailed and try to maintain some kind of routine when it comes to the time that you go to bed and the time that you wake up.

If you are struggling to fall asleep or spending your nights tossing and turning, there are countless tips you can try to help. This could be a visit to your doctor, limiting screen time before bed, using soothing essential oils like lavender, or sipping on THC Drinks before you start getting ready for bed. When you find what works for you, you are going to feel so much better and well rested.

Make time for your passions:

Your passions are what make life worth living and they’re not only great because you find them enjoyable. Escaping into the things that you love is perfect for self care, as it allows you to really be yourself and let go of all of the issues that are whizzing around your mind. Whether you love art, music, or reading, make sure that you’ve got time to pursue it. You’ll feel on top of the world when you do!

If one of your passions is travel, perhaps your self care will come in the form of taking a vacation. We all need one whether it is a staycation, weekend getaway, or a big trip. Making travel plans can be both exciting and soothing as it gives your mind a literal vacation. From exploring lodging accommodations like a bed and breakfast or bruachdryne apartment rentals to scoping out the best eateries and activities, planning a trip can be as fun as taking one. The ultimate in self care!

Be kind to yourself:

Many people beat themselves up all of the time, for various reasons. Maybe you’re not where you want to be with your career, you think that you’re not thin enough, or you believe that you’ve done something wrong that is going to follow you forever. However, you need to be kind to yourself. You’ll make mistakes, but you’re on the right path. You still deserve to be happy, so don’t forget this.

If you find yourself caught in an anti kindness to yourself cycle, try doing something nice for yourself instead. Do you fancy a massage? Enter a search for “swedish massage in Alameda, CA” (or your local area) and book that appointment! Want a quiet afternoon with a good book? Curl up and make it happen! Treating yourself to something you enjoy is an amazing way to be kind to yourself and you will always feel better when you invest in number one – you!

Enjoy improving your self care rituals; you deserve it!

Jan10

Boosting Your Health & Well-Being In 2019

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Boosting Your Health & Well-Being In 2019

It’s a new year, so it’s time for a new you, and this means looking at how you can improve your health and look after yourself better. There are a lot of things that you can do to achieve this, and it is important to get this right as much as you can. Think about how your health and fitness plays a role in your every day life, and what you can do to make improvements. Here are some ideas that will help you to boost your health this year:

Exercise is Key:

It is vital that you get out and about and be sure that you are focused on exercise as much as possible. You have a lot to keep in mind when it comes to improving your well-being, and this is something that plays a big part in the process. Make sure you think carefully about the different things that you can do to keep fit. Getting out and staying active as best as you can is going to be really important in helping to keep you in shape and improve the way you do things.

Self-Care Matters:

There are a lot of elements of your health and well-being that are important, and one of the biggest is self-care. There are so many things that play a massive part in the process, and this is something that you can always get right. The balance of mind and body through self-care is one of the best things that you can do in your day to day life. Make sure you are looking after yourself and watch as your mood improves for the better drastically.

Improve Your Mental Health:

Your mental health can positively or negatively affect your life and it is up to you to determine how it does. Seeing experts like Cynthia Telles Kaiser can be helpful if you are having problems that you need to talk through and so can improving your self care routines as previously discussed.

Get More Rest:

Resting is a great way to rejuvenate your body and mind, and help you to operate at the best level that you can. We all need our rest, and you must never underestimate how much of an impact this sort of thing can have on your health. Catch some Z’s and get yourself feeling well rested and ready to take on the day.

Being in the best shape you can possibly be in, both physically and mentally makes the hassles of your daily life seem a lot easier. Take control of how you feel in 2019 and be amazed at how your new world opens up to you.

Jan2

The Science Of Sleep: How To Get More Quality Shut-Eye

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The Science Of Sleep: How To Get More Quality Shut-Eye

Imagine regularly engaging in an activity that stops your brain from processing and filing away your days’ experiences. That negatively affects your memory and stress levels and robs your body of much-needed energy. That literally stops your body from repairing itself. Well, science has shown that this is precisely what you are doing if you are denying your body enough sleep. Read on to find out more:

Shift work:

Traditionally, those working in a shift pattern rather than the traditional 9-5 or 8-6, as is more common these days, have had trouble regulating their sleep patterns and getting enough to optimize their health. Of course, with the disadvantage mentioned above, this can be something that can significantly affect both their physical and mental well being and so steps need to be taken to rectify this.

One method that can be helpful, is to identify your own personal sleep rhythm and find work that best fits around this. For example, those that wake naturally later in the day and are often up past midnight may suit working the late shift much better than someone that thrives on being up at the crack of dawn.

Noise disturbance:

Something else that can cause you to get too little sleep is noise disturbance. In fact, there is a significant number of people whose sleep is disturbed by factors, such as traffic, noisy pipes, and even a partner that snores. Each issue needs to be dealt with individually but, the good news, is that there are things that you can do to help.

For instance, those plagued by traffic noise may choose to have their windows triple insulated against the sound or wear earplugs at night. While those kept awake by a partners’ snorting can research into the latest practices such as how fotona laser can treat snoring and will minimize any issue of disturbance. Something that will be a great relief to anyone whose quality of sleep is affected by this issue.

Methods of opening obstructed airways, can not only provide relief to the person kept awake by the snoring but can also make it easier to breathe during the night for the person having the treatment, too. Therefore, allowing them to get a much better and more refreshing night’s sleep as well.

Sleep hygiene:

Lastly, when it comes to the science of sleep, what researchers have recently found is there are all sorts of things that can interfere with your ability to drift naturally off to sleep and stay asleep for the required amount of time. Many of these issues arise from over stimulation of the brain, either from caffeine, sugar, light, and particularly blue light. To that end, many specialists are now recommending a return to a more traditional routine before bed know as sleep hygiene.

This routine cuts out too many stimulating factors and naturally allows our bodies and, most importantly, our minds to relax, decompress, and prepare for sleep in the right manner. Something that has been proven to have a positive effect on both nodding off, and staying asleep for the right amount of time to promote optimum well being.

 

Dec20

What’s Stopping You From Living Healthily?

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What’s Stopping You From Living Healthily?

The vast majority of people have health problems to some extent. It’s a part of life that we’ll become unwell and injure ourselves from time to time, but the real issues start when health issues become a big part of our daily lives. If you’ve been struggling with your physical and psychological well being for a long time, then it might be time to start making an improvement to your life. What’s stopping you from living healthily? That’s the question you need to answer. Let’s talk through some potential reasons as to why you’re struggling to live well:

A lack of physical activity:

Many people struggle to live healthily because they don’t move enough. You don’t have to become a fitness fanatic to stay physically healthy; you just need to find a way to work out your body today. Maybe you find it boring to run on a treadmill for 20 minutes. Why not run around your local park for 20 minutes, instead? That’d be a little more scenic. Or maybe you find jogging boring. Well, you could take up dance classes or join a sports club. There are so many ways to get your body moving. The important thing, is that you find something you enjoy. Find a form of cardiovascular activity and strength training that works in your daily routine.

Of course, you might be deterred from exercising because it’s been unenjoyable in the past. Maybe you’ve pushed yourself too hard at the gym and hurt yourself. An injury can definitely discourage somebody from wanting to exercise in the future. But it’s important to gradually move past that incident because injuries are most often caused by things outside of your control or a lack of experience. You might want to get help from personal injury attorneys if you’ve hurt yourself at home or the gym. Getting some closure on the incident might help you to ease back into regular physical activity.

Inconsistent eating habits:

This is something that stops many people from living healthily. Overeating is unhealthy, but fluctuating between an excessive and restrictive diet is even more damaging to your body and mind. Lots of people think that dieting is all about cutting back on food, but the goal is to cut back on unhealthy food. Otherwise, you’ll deny yourself the nutrition you need and end up craving the junk food you’re missing. You need to develop a consistent diet if you want to live healthily in the long-term, and the key to that is filling your meals with food that gives you the sustenance you need. In turn, you won’t crave the junk food you’ve cut out.

Sleep deprivation:

Sleep deprivation is something that stops many people from living healthily. You might be eating well and exercising regularly but failing to see the results you want because you’re not getting enough rest. Perhaps you think sleep deprivation only affects your energy levels and concentration, but it can also slow your metabolism and muscle repair. So, your waistline might suffer as a result. You need to improve your sleep routine if you want to improve your overall health. Make sure you get 8 hours of sleep every night. Go to bed earlier if you have to. Maybe you need to get up at 7am to get ready for work every day. If that’s the case then you shouldn’t be going to bed past midnight. Make your well being a priority.

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Hit the hay!

With New Year’s resolutions right around the corner, use these tips to help you get and stay in shape.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec10

Small Steps To Big Changes: Simple Ways To Get Your Health Back On Track

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Small Steps To Big Changes: Simple Ways To Get Your Health Back On Track

We’re approaching that time of year when we start to think about the months ahead. As we near the New Year, many of us will be making resolutions. Often, we take vows and make promises to improve our health and boost our happiness, but many people lose interest in resolutions very quickly. Sometimes, this is due to the fact that we tend to be a little too optimistic when it comes to goal setting. If you’re keen to get your health back on track, the key to success lies in taking small steps. Here are some simple measures that will make a massive difference to your health and well-being:

Adjust your sleep routine:

Are you one of those people that doze off in front of the TV every night and then struggle to get up in the morning? If you’re not getting seven to eight hours of quality sleep on a regular basis, modifying your sleep routine is one of the best ways to improve your mental and physical health. You have an internal clock, and it is possible to get into a routine, which will help you get more sleep. Instead of curling up and nodding off on the sofa, go to bed an hour earlier. Rather than hitting the snooze button, get up at the same time every morning. Your body clock will soon adjust to these new times, and you should find that you’re enjoying better quality sleep, as well as more downtime.

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Catch some Z’s!

Drink more water:

Are you guilty of turning to sodas when you’re thirsty or is your body fueled by coffee? If you don’t drink enough water, this is a really simple resolution to stick to. Aim for two liters of water per day, and carry a bottle around with you so that you can sip and go. If you’re not keen on the taste of water, consider buying sparkling water with a hint of fruit flavor or add sugar-free cordial. Dehydration increases the risk of headaches, muscular pain, fatigue, and dry skin.

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Cheers!

Be more active:

It’s very common for people to go on a fitness drive after the holidays. It’s a brilliant move to try and get into exercise, but often, we try and do too much too soon, and we lose interest and motivation. You don’t have to join the gym and go every single day to get in shape. You can increase your fitness gradually, and you can try a whole host of activities. If you know you don’t enjoy running on a treadmill or spinning, consider joining a sports team or trying classes like boxing, Pilates, or high-intensity interval training.

Aim to work out a couple of times a week, and increase the frequency as you get fitter and stronger. Exercise is often used as a means of shifting festive pounds, but it’s so much more than a weight loss tool. Being active reduces your risk for lots of serious physiological health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease, and it’s also proven to lower the risk of depression, stress, and anxiety.

If you’re on a mission to get your health back on track, start by taking small steps and setting manageable goals and watch yourself succeed!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov23

Learning To Love Your Appearance Every Single Day

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Learning To Love Your Appearance Every Single Day

You might have laughed at the title of this post because it’s not possible to love your appearance every single day, right? We all have the occasional “good hair day”, but that’s it. However, there’s no need to be so cynical. There are always going to be days on which you’re not a fan of your hair or you look a little sleepier than usual, but you can learn to love your appearance even when it’s not 100%. It all comes down to improving your mindset. And your mental health is linked to your physical health, so this will help to give your appearance a glow too. Reducing stress can reduce acne, for example, so there’s a clear correlation. Here’s how you can improve your mindset and learn to love your appearance every day:

Facial Beauty:

Let’s start off with your face, because that’s often the main point of focus when it comes to appearance. Many of us are critical of our facial appearance, but this is an aspect of beauty that’s easy to alter. You could start off by trying out microblading if you want to improve your brow game. Eyebrows have become a very important part of facial beauty over recent years, and you might find that changing the shape of your brows changes the appearance of your entire face. You could also try cutting back on foundation; makeup doesn’t always have to be the answer. Giving your skin a break from excessive use of foundation might help to clear up any blemishes, and it’ll make you naturally glow.

Sometimes treatments and makeup aren’t enough to make a drastic change. If you are looking for big improvements, you could find a reputable plastic surgeon to consult with. Looking for something less extreme? How about changing your eye color! Hazel, green, even purple, and blue eye contacts are available to see the whole world through a different set of eye colors!

Fashion:

Fashion is another integral part of loving your appearance every single day. The way you dress has a massive impact on your overall look. If you dress well every day, then you’ll look good every day. It’s as simple as that. But avoid fast fashion; opt for clothes that are timelessly stylish so that they can stay in your wardrobe for years. That being said, if you give away some of your old clothes to charity because they no longer fit or suit you, then there might be an opening in your wardrobe for some new additions. If you want to get inspired, then you should look into some fashionable boutiques which offer modern yet varied options. It’s important that you’re not too restrictive with your choice of style. Fashion should reflect your personality, so have fun with it.

Sleep:

One of the best ways to improve your appearance is to improve your health. The way we look on the outside is a reflection of how well we take care of ourselves. Cutting out unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking can help to improve your skin quality, for instance. You also need to prioritize a healthy sleeping pattern. The term “beauty sleep” is probably nothing new to you, and there’s a lot of substance to this idea. A cup of coffee might make you feel more awake, but does it get rid of the bags under your eyes? No. And that’s because your body is trying to tell you it needs rest. You can’t cut corners when it comes to sleeping well. Sleep deprivation can weaken your immune system, slow your metabolism, and even reduce muscle repair. In other words, your healthy workouts won’t have the impact you want. Start sleeping better if you want your body to improve in appearance. You’ll look and feel good. It’s about more than vanity; it’s about your physical and emotional wellbeing.

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Catch some Z’s!

A strong sense of self confidence can help you get through the toughest of times, so start building up yours little by little with the above tips!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar28

Introducing Sleep Hygiene To Your Life

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Introducing Sleep Hygiene To Your Life

If you’re someone who struggles to get to sleep at night, or you’re the kind of person who lays awake for hours just waiting for sleep to catch up with you, then there’s a good chance that you do not have the best sleep hygiene. This is a relatively new concept that’s been getting a lot of attention recently, with more and more people complaining of insomnia and research into sleep disorders becoming a wide medical field.

If you want to introduce it into your life, because let’s face it, at this point you’ll take anything to make sure you get a good night’s sleep, then here’s some basic tips. It’s important to remember that not everything works for everyone before frustration makes you give up on the entire premise!

Get Relaxed Before Bed:

It’s all well and good that you can fall onto the softest mattress from Sterling Sleep Systems, but you need to get properly relaxed before that to make sure that sleep takes hold of you in the shortest time possible. The best way to do this is to implement a routine for the nighttime that gets your body used to switching off and falling asleep, and gets your brain to remember that sleep is its friend!

Make sure that you’re washing in warm water before you head to the dream world, as a bath or shower can release tension from your muscles and give you a very refreshing feeling. You could also try stretching yourself out before you sleep; yes, a bit of exercise before saying goodnight could help you. Your body doesn’t need to settle into a lethargic position before you fall into a restful slumber, after all.

Keep it Dark:

Your brain needs to focus and only focus on trying to get to sleep, and that means your sleep environment needs to be calm and quiet for you to slumber away in. Making sure it’s dark is a good way to indicate to your open eyes that it’s time to rest. This isn’t something everyone finds relaxing, of course, but you can easily minimize the effect of harsh lighting before you go to sleep by turning off the phone or the TV, or dimming these screens down.

Try Not to Nap:

Everyone needs to nap from time to time, but if you’re taking two to three hour naps in the middle of the day, you’re going to suffer at bedtime. This is because your body doesn’t feel tired due to the extra energy, and let’s face it, you already know this is a problem you have to conquer. If you do need to nap, try to limit the time to 30 minutes, with 20 minutes being the optimum. It can erase the tiredness behind your eyes and really boost your mood, so feel free to take these shorter naps.

Sleep hygiene is quite effective to practice and can make going into the land of nod a lot easier.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb21

How Your Sleeping Position Can Impact Your Health

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How Your Sleeping Position Can Impact Your Health

We all know that getting a good night’s sleep is a vital component of health — but did you know the position you sleep in can also be important? On the surface, this sounds like junk science. After all, if you’re sleeping, that’s the bit that counts, surely? Why does it matter how you sleep, so long as you’re doing it?

Numerous studies have concluded that your sleeping position can indeed influence your health. The downside of this is that many people have a preferred sleeping position, and the idea of trying to sleep differently is very difficult to imagine. It therefore makes sense to know the potential downsides of your preferred sleeping position, so you can take action to mitigate the effects:

Side Sleepers:

The bad news…

  • Side sleepers are the most at-risk group for neck complaints. If you find that you frequently wake up with a sore neck or headache, it’s likely that the body alignment you adopt while sleeping on your side is to blame. Invest in a pillow that is specifically designed to adapt to the curve of your neck, so you are thoroughly supported throughout the night.
  • Side sleepers are also at risk of back and hip problems, again due to the alignment of your body while sleeping. As you can see on this Lull Bed review, side sleepers have been found to enjoy mattresses that conform to their body shape, so keep this in mind when you’re purchasing a mattress.

The good news…

  • Studies have shown that sleeping on your left side can reduce acid reflux for those suffering from GERD.

Back Sleepers:

The bad news…

  • Sleeping on your back does not mean you will necessarily develop a condition called sleep apnea, but sleep apnea sufferers who sleep on their back will definitely exacerbate the condition. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes people to stop breathing during sleep; this is usually only momentary and happens without conscious awareness in most cases. If you do have sleep apnea, avoid sleeping on your back to help prevent attacks. You should also be utilizing cpap cleaning machines to keep your cpap sanitary and keeping your doctor updated on any changes to your condition.
  • Back sleepers are also more likely to snore than those who sleep in other positions, which can cause issues with dry mouth and throat pain.

The good news…

  • Sleeping on your back ensures your spine is always in alignment with the rest of your body, so back sleepers are the least likely to experience aches and pains caused by their sleep habits.

Front Sleepers:

The bad news…

  • Lower back pain is a real risk for front sleepers, as your body is forced to flatten unnaturally. Try sleeping with a pillow under your abdomen to mitigate this.
  • Neck pain is also common for front sleepers. Most specialists recommend using pillows to train yourself to sleep on your side, as front sleeping is generally considered to be the worst sleeping position.

The good news…

  • Snoring is less common in front sleepers.

In conclusion:

Now that you know how to prevent any issues caused by your sleeping position, you can make a few changes and ensure that your sleep is always as beneficial and restorative as it should be.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan14

Penguin Pajama Party: Isaac Mizrahi Edition

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Penguin Pajama Party: Isaac Mizrahi Edition

Hola! One of my favorite things to treat myself to is pajamas. They are fairly cheap, they’re cute, comfy, and make going to bed even more fun than it already is. TJMaxx always has a wonderful selection of PJs to hit the hay in, including this darling pair of sleep bottoms that I got for TEN BUCKS! Take a look:

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One of my favorite animals (Besides for peacocks, dogs, and bunnies!) is the penguin. They are so cute and look so cuddly and I love the way that their little bodies waddle when they walk. So, of course, I had to get these PJ bottoms when I saw them, because nothing is more precious than penguins dressed up in winter accessories!

I love the soft taupe of the background color and I am especially partial to the little guy in the second picture in the bottom left corner who is decked out in a green hat and red scarf. His wittle flippers are out and he looks like he’s having a ball. The penguins in glasses are also pretty adorable, too. They all are! 😀

What is your favorite animal? Who else is an avid pajama lover? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec21

3 Thoughts Everyone Has On Christmas Day

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3 Thoughts Everyone Has On Christmas Day

The big day is nearly upon us, a day that many of us have been counting down to for the last three months. Some of us have even been counting down for the past 12 months, such is our joy of Christmas and the festive fun and celebrations that it brings. Christmas is inherently unifying, and despite celebrating in many different ways, we can all find ourselves thinking surprisingly similar thoughts on Christmas Day itself. Which of these do you recognize?

“Can I sleep more?”

Christmas Day, without exception, makes everyone feel exhausted — even if you hadn’t done much. A quick pre-dinner nap is an essential… and an after-dinner one, too, if you can sneak it. It’s undeniable; for most of us, Christmas is about two things: sleeping and celebrating.

“I can’t possibly eat anything more.”

This is then usually followed by: “oh yes, turns out I can”. Christmas Day is a day of gluttony, the one day of the year where it’s possible to just kick back and relax. The word “calorie” doesn’t even enter our vocabulary. So we’re merry as can be, our stomachs are full, and then someone offers us a slice of chocolate orange and suddenly we find our appetite again.

“When are we watching a movie?”

What would Christmas Day be without a festive movie or two? It’s the perfect way to unwind after a big meal, so make sure you plan what you’re sitting down to. Do you prefer to stick to an old favorite or would you opt for this fantasy movie idea?


Infographic Design By Sunny