There are few guaranteed investments in life. But one is guaranteed to make you a better person, more successful in your endeavors, and happier. That is investing in sleep. According to the NIH ( National Institute of Health), getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. Wow! So if we are bragging about how little sleep we need, we may be fooling ourselves. The NIH goes on to state that good sleep improves learning and creativity. Do you want smarter, happier, creative kids? Help them get more sleep.
Are you exhausted?
Now, you may say well that is all good and well, but I am sooo STRESSED out–what are you gonna say about that? Well stress is one of the main reasons for not being able to sleep. You are not alone. According to a poll by the The Better Sleep Council the following issues were some of the top reasons for stress that reduced sleep.
Family matters. 23% say family issues are preventing them from sleeping.
Sleep debt. 16% blame personal finances for lack of shut-eye.
As the world turns. 2% are awake because of current events.
Turning off our mind so that we can sleep is easier said than done. But here are some practical steps from the Better Sleep Council:
Turning off your worries and thoughts is essential if you’re going to sleep well. Meditation before bed can help sweep the debris in your mind into a corner. Making your bedroom a worry-free zone allows you to sleep freely. Keep everything that relates to work or stress (like your phone, TV, paperwork, bills, etc.) in a separate room, physically separated from where you sleep.
Getting yourself into a routine where you go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time (even on weekends) will lull your body into the habit of regular sleep. Be very strict with your bedtime. Don’t let yourself get distracted by social media, what’s on TV or work you didn’t get done. When it’s bedtime, just go to bed, no matter what. Soon your body will be on board and you will naturally fall asleep and wake up when you are supposed to.
Since we spend 33% of our lives asleep, improving sleep means improving one-third of your life — not to mention that those benefits carry over to when you’re awake too!
Turning off our mind is essential to good sleep
Cast a sleep spell
Set up a routine that you can do every night before bed. Make sure you have time to unwind before your bedtime ritual begins. Then follow the same series of steps that lead you from being awake to being asleep every night. For example: lock the doors, turn the dishwasher on, put your pajamas on, wash your face, brush your teeth, pull the blinds, fluff your pillows, turn on gentle music, read a few pages of a book, then turn off the light and gently allow your mind to drift among pleasant thoughts. Doing the same things every single night signals to your body that sleep is coming and helps your body and mind relax so sleep comes easily.
Make your bed for good sleep
One thing that you can control when it comes to your sleep is your mattress. A mattress that is old or uncomfortable results in aches and pains, tossing and turning, and sleep that is not as restful and restorative as it should be. If you’re not waking up feeling refreshed and relaxed, it’s time to take a look at your mattress and evaluate its condition.
Lumps and bumps. A mattress that is uneven needs to be replaced.
Rags to riches. If your mattress is visibly worn, tattered or stained, it is begging for an upgrade.
Cheating on your mattress. Have you had a better night’s sleep at a hotel or at a friend’s house than you get at home? If so, your mattress is not doing its job and needs to be replaced.
Age discrimination. The life span of a mattress is no more than 8 to 10 years. It’s time to replace it once you reach that threshold.
At Jordan Bedding we can help you find the perfect mattress for you. Take our quiz and then come and and try the mattress right in our store. Our family has been helping people find the best mattress for over 60 years. In fact–we have been chosen Best Mattress Store for that reason. We know mattresses inside and out and we work hard to fit one of the 14 different comfort levels we offer to each customer based on their particular needs. We also offer premium sheets and pillows to help you create the best sleep environment.
If only every investment in life had as big a return as sleep
…. Don’t skimp on one of the most important investments in life–your well-being.
