Getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t just affect your overall mood the following day, it also can improve your mental health. Sleep problems and mental disorders seem to have a cyclical relationship where they feed off of each other and can ultimately lead to a downwards spiral for both your sleep quality and your mental health. It’s important to treat both issues at the same time instead of only addressing one problem. Even if you’ve never had a mental health issue before, sleep problems can potentially cause people to develop anxiety and, in some cases, depression.
Read moreThere are all kinds of benefits to bathing or showering first thing in the morning. Maybe it helps to wake you up, or perhaps you want to be able to shower so your hair is clean and ready to shower.
However, for many people, the benefits of showering at bedtime far outweigh those of showering in the morning. Showering is something that pretty much everyone does daily, and switching your showering routine to the bedtime sleep hours is an easy way to improve your sleep.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide when to shower. Consider exactly what your body needs. If you are more concerned about not being able to wake up in the morning, you may want to take an icy cold bath or shower first thing in the morning.
However, if you struggle with winding down and getting to bed at a decent hour because your mind is racing, you may want to take a warm shower at night instead.
Of course, you could always try to get the best of both worlds by showering twice a day. Take a cool shower in the morning and a lukewarm one at night. This won’t help you to save on your water bill, of course, but it can provide you with both the energizing and relaxing effects you need.
Read moreIt can be tough to find time for adequate sleep - that’s something that you probably know well as an adult, and it’s even more true for kids. After all, your child probably has a busy day as it is. From doing his homework to going to school, attending sports practice, and hanging out with friends, your child has a lot on his plate.
However, at the end of the day, it’s essential to help your child get the sleep his body deserves - and needs. You need sleep in order to survive. Good parenting is about helping your child get that sleep, no matter what.
Read moreUse plenty of positive reinforcement as well. This is a tip that will serve you well in every aspect of sleep training your toddler, so be sure to lay it on heavy! You don’t necessarily even need to use tangible rewards like toys or food. Often, you can convince your child to make the transition and to develop good sleep habits with the power of positive words alone.
A sleep-deprived toddler is a scary thing - he will be more prone to the sillies, crankiness, tantrums, and everything in between. A good sleep routine can preserve your child’s sanity - as well as your own! - and while it can be tough to get him established with a good routine, it’s absolutely essential when it comes to developing sleep skills that will last for life. Good luck, and good night!
Read moreMore often than not you can get a better night’s sleep by just following a few simple steps. With that said, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your body. If you are having more severe allergic reactions at night, keeping a journal can help pinpoint what might be causing it.
Sleep allergies don’t have to keep you up at night. So long as you know how to approach them, you can finally get a good night’s rest. By following the tips above, you’re on your way to feeling more refreshed in the morning.
Read moreWhether you are moving, investing in a new mattress for your home, or want to upgrade the size of your current mattress—if you are looking to replace your old mattress with a new one, it is important to know what to do with that old mattress. There are proper ways to find a mattress removal service for mattress disposal and mattress recycling. A local church or a neighbor can help you take in and donate your mattress. Use this mattress disposal guide to help you navigate the many different options available that fits your needs best.
Read moreSleep is an important function in everyone’s life and while it might be tempting to cram as many activities as possible on vacation, you should take time to relax. When planning your vacation, focus on going to a coupe must-see locations a day and giving yourself time to breathe for the additional free time you have. When you don’t have to run around from 6am-11pm you’ll find vacations much more enjoyable.
Like you would at home, follow a sleep schedule so you’re not exhausted the entire vacation. In fact, vacations are a perfect time to adjust your regular sleep schedule as there are no distractions or pressing deadlines you need to worry about. Focus on readjusting your internal clock and use the vacation to figure out how much sleep you need and your perfect bedtime. From there, just sit back and relax!
Read moreIf you’re considering CBD (Cannabidiol) for sleep, you undoubtedly want to know, simply, does it work? Well, as we’ve mentioned throughout this guide, CBD has been shown in preliminary studies to effectively work to help you sleep. It’s a natural painkiller and provides benefits to your mental and emotional well being. So, even if CBD itself doesn’t put you to sleep, it will put your mind and body in a place where you’re more readily able to relax. We’ve also mentioned several times that it’s critical that you speak with a health care provider before beginning to take CBD. The oil has not yet been fully researched, and may interact with your existing physical and mental conditions, as well as reduce the efficacy or counteract your existing medications.
Read moreThe big question of course is, does acupressure work? There have been several studies that have shown positive correlations between stimulating these pressure points and improved sleep quality. With that said, for the most part, sample sizes in all of these studies have been relatively small making it hard to draw conclusive evidence. A recent study with over 100 participants found that acupressure worked better than traditional sleep medication after a month of treatment. Still, despite its existence for thousands of years, there still hasn’t been enough scientific studies into acupressure or acupuncture to see whether it’s actually beneficial.
At the same time, none of these studies found any negative effects from using these pressure points when it comes to sleep. If you’re struggling with insomnia and you’ve tried everything else and it hasn’t worked, using these pressure points might help.
Read moreIf you are struggling with getting enough sleep at night, or if you are someone who lies in bed all night attempting to fall asleep without success, then the right sleep calculator app or sleep sounds app may be for you. There are so many different sleep apps out there right now, and unfortunately, not all of them are created equal. This is why we have taken the time to review some of the many sleep apps out there to help you find the best app to meet your individual needs.
Read moreGetting the sleep you need - and crave! - during pregnancy can be a challenge. Fortunately, by following the pregnancy sleeping tips above, you’ll be able to log some quality zzz’s throughout every trimester of pregnancy - perhaps even after the baby arrives.
Read moreConsider adding these stretches to your nightly routine. When done correctly, they will not only promote more restful sleep, but they’ll help you fall asleep faster too and reduce anxiety and lower back pain. Just make sure you stick to gentle, relaxing stretches - doing an intense workout before bed can have the opposite effect of what you intended!
Read moreThere are plenty of other changes you can make to help ensure you get better-quality sleep throughout all seasons of the year - and room temperatures! For starters, make sure you keep your room dark. You should consider your bedroom to be a caveat night when you head to bed. Cover your windows with curtains or blinds so that street lights or sunlight (particularly during the brighter summer months) doesn’t filter in.
Get rid of all those electronic devices that tend to keep you distracted right before bed. Not only should you be ditching these devices within an hour or two of bedtime anyway for better quality sleep, but the light that they emit when you’re trying to sleep can be downright invasive. The list of electronics to toss from your sleeping quarters includes computer monitors, televisions, phones, and any other device that emits a blinking light.
Setting a good sleep routine is important no matter what your sleep goals might be. Your body’s circadian rhythm is a skilled performer and will do a good job of regulating itself so that you can get healthy sleep. However, you may need to help it out by getting rid of gadgets, practicing some relaxing activities (like reading or meditation) right before bed, and making sure the room temperature where you are sleeping is at the ideal level.
Remember, your room should be between 60 and 67 degrees for healthy sleep - even if you are sharing a room with an infant. Getting quality rest is a hot topic - but remember to keep things cool for better sleep.
Read moreWashing the bed sheets tends to be a least favorite chore on many people’s list of things to do. In fact, up to 60% of us aren’t washing our sheets enough, as research from End of Tenancy Cleaning London has elucidated.
Nevertheless, it’s important that you take the proper steps to keep your bedding clean and fresh. This will help eliminate all kinds of nasty germs, dust mites, and bacteria that are hanging out between the sheets.
Follow these care tips for how often you should wash and change your bed sheets, and you’ll be well on your way to better sleep every night of the week.
Read moreThe incidence of sleep apnea in children has risen greatly over the past years. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes people to stop breathing for periods of time, and it can be fatal if untreated.
The prevalence of this disorder in children is unclear, but one study found that up to 5% of all pediatric patients were diagnosed with sleep apnea. In order to diagnose the disorder, doctors will do a physical examination of your child and check for any irregularities in their sleeping patterns or history.
Ultimately, getting your child to a pediatrician if you suspect sleep apnea - or any kind of sleep disorder - is essential. Sleep apnea isn’t hugely common in children (at least, not as common as it is in adults) but it is still an issue to be on the lookout for if you want to keep your child happy and healthy.
Read moreTraveling is inevitably going to be less about sleep and more about making memories with your family. Your child’s sleep schedule will eventually return to normal and if you don’t sleep as well while traveling, it’s not the end of the world.
However, by following these steps to manage bedtimes when you are traveling with your kids, you can reduce your sleep-related stress. Hopefully, everybody will get some restful sleep while you’re enjoying your relaxing time away from home!
Read moreSleep problems have become a constant trouble to some while to others it is a time to time problem. Luckily, without resorting to medication, we can get that much-needed rest with having sleep masks to help us. Importantly, sleep masks are affordable and convenient. It can be carried anywhere for use at any time most especially by travelers, whether they’re napping on the plane or sleeping in an unfamiliar hotel.
Read moreWhat you sleep on every night is important. If you are looking for a great pair of sheets, a comfortable duvet or even a luxe pillowcase, SOL Organics has you covered. All of their bedding products are natural, organic, eco-friendly and good for the environment. Whether you want eco-friendly sheets, a super absorbent towel or other textiles, SOL Organics will deliver high-quality products that you can feel good about buying and good about using each and every day. Now all you need to do is find which products from this vast collection you want to try.
Read moreIf you are ready to take your home décor and luxury home bedding essentials up a notch, then take a look at the SIJO brand. This company is dedicated to creating beautiful, functional and safe items that you can feel good about buying and good about using in your home each and every day. This company truly makes products you can feel good about buying and items that are eco-friendly and part of an effort to give back to those in need.
Read moreFinding the perfect bed isn’t easy for most people, but it’s especially daunting for heavier folks. Luckily many of the heavy duty beds listed above provide 20 years to lifetime warranties. Just make sure to read the fine print as there might be specific issues that will void your warranty. With that said, when looking for a new mattress it’s important to know your priorities such as price, size, sustainability, allergies, etc. before buying.
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