Sleep Awareness Week
March 12 – 18 is Sleep Awareness week. I cannot tell you how many wonderful people I work with who struggle to get a good night's sleep regularly. Do you have any challenges with sleep?
I used to think it was a badge of honor to be online working at 1 am or 2 am. At the time, I thought I was being productive and demonstrating a commitment to being the best. Over the years, as I learned more about the importance of sleep, I began to revisit my understanding of how important sleep was to my whole health. I did not feel I could espouse lifestyle medicine's tenets and live a life out of alignment with those core principles. I tracked my sleep; I purchased an Oura ring to obtain more data. I dove deep into the rabbit hole of sleep science with myself as the subject.
The outcome? More sleep. Better sleep. Better health. A happier and healthier me.
What contributes to a better night's sleep? These are my thoughts, and they are backed by science:
A consistent wind-down routine
A regular sleep schedule (weekdays and weekends)
Limiting stimulating behaviors before bedtime
Reducing stress
Being physically active
Not going to bed hungry or full
Recognizing that a healthy night’s sleep starts the moment you wake up
These are just some highlights, and I could write a post on each one of these topics. I will share more about my personal lessons learned in another post. In the meantime, I have provided links to several resources below that you might find interesting.
The connection between sleep and health (physical health and mental health) is real. If you are struggling with sleep, please speak with your healthcare team and/or your health coach to learn what you can do to make positive changes that can have a ripple effect across all aspects of your health and wellness.
Do you have tips for a great night's sleep? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Be well,
Daphne
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