Karl from Vitruvian Health shares his secrets for taking your sleep routine to the NEXT LEVEL.
It’s Sleep Awareness Week… Zzz!
At Vitruvian Health, we passionately believe that sleep is the most underrated thing you can do to help you maintain and live a healthy, optimal life.
As health professionals, you’d be aware of the powerful healing properties of the elixir that is sleep. The challenge though is how to get enough of it on a consistent basis, particularly when working shift work.
SO.. here are 3 hot tips you can implement to LEVEL UP your sleep routine.
Tip 1 – Get your body in the mood… to sleep!
Ever come home from your day, watch a movie or something engaging on tv then get into bed and stare at the ceiling for hours wondering why you can’t sleep? And when you do sleep you toss and turn all night and wake up feeling disheveled and frustrated?
Well, believe it or not, you actually set your body up to have that sort of sleep.
To LEVEL UP your sleep routine, you need to get your body into the mood to sleep.
At least an hour before bed you need to opt for doing things that don’t involve too much stimulation. This counts out using anything with blue light like the tv, computer or your phone.
Instead, go have a bath, read a light book, do some relaxation exercises or breathing. Whatever it is, do something that will help you let go of your day and your thoughts so that your body -and your mind – can rest.
Tip 2 – Turn all the lights off!
Overhead lights, like blue light, stops your brain from releasing the neurotransmitters that promote relaxation and sleep.
When you come home, whether it be in the morning or the evening, create an environment that promotes sleep by turning off the overhead lights and using soft, warm lamps instead.
Tip 3 – Eat foods that make you sleepy
Can you sleep on an empty stomach? What about after you’ve had a tonne of sugar?
The meal you eat right before bed can influence your sleep. If you eat foods that make your heart race, it’s going to be pretty challenging to slow your heart down enough to sleep.
Opt for foods that make you sleepy. For example eating carbs promotes the release of serotonin in the gut which can make you feel more relaxed, therefore promoting getting you in the mood to sleep.
This article was provided by Vitruvian Health.