A staggering 40% of Australians get inadequate sleep each night
Being unable to sleep and staring at the ceiling at 2:30 am is usually low on people’s list of favourite things to do. Sleep problems affect any age, insomnia (difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep) and/or waking unrefreshed can be some people’s reality. Research shows that adults who get fewer than seven hours of sleep (whether for just one night or over the course of days, weeks, or months) experience daytime consequences such as irritability, fatigue, and poor memory. Sleep deprivation not only has detrimental effects on your work life, relationships and wellbeing, but increases the risk of ongoing health problems. If you or someone you know is having trouble sleeping – it’s important to get support.
The connection between sleep and weight gain is hard to ignore. According to research cutting back on sleep reduces the benefits of dieting. When dieters got a full night’s sleep, more than half of the weight they lost was fat. When they cut back on their sleep, only one-fourth of their weight loss came from fat. Sleep-deprived dieters also felt hungrier, producing higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger and reduces energy expenditure.
Solutions for counting sheep?
Lack of sleep does not have to be a fact of life. There are natural products that can help promote a restful, nurturing night’s sleep, without leaving you feeling groggy.
Sleep tight tips:
Sleep is not a luxury – it is a NECESSITY, so reducing or avoiding the factors that can negatively impact sleep can be the key to getting the rest you need.
- Reduce or eliminate stimulants, i.e. caffeine and sugar
- Go to bed at the same time each night
- Create a dark sleeping environment
- Invest in a comfortable mattress and bedding
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Practice relaxation exercises or read a book in bed. Find a meditation app that helps you relax
- Reduce screen time an hour before bed, i.e. phones, computers or TV. In the evening, utilise an app that inverts the screen lighting to create black backgrounds with white text
- Engage in regular movement and activity.
Wishing you the sweetest of dreams!
Ref: Health World Limited; Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism; Materials provided by University of Chicago Medical Center
