When was the last time you woke up feeling refreshed...you awoke without the alarm clock and you're ready to hit the ground running...Can't remember? You're not alone.Due to the pressures and hectic pace of modern life few of us get a really satisfying and revitalizing nights sleep. Yet it's not a coincidence that it is called a "beauty sleep".
Research shows that if you don't get enough sleep it affects your irritability, you become foggy and edgy. Your body aches and you feel drained. You become clumsy and your ability to deal with stress is reduced. Not getting enough sleep affects your immune system and may even make you fat. All these symptoms will show on your skin, as your skin is a mirror of what is going on inside yourself. Not only that but it's been shown that it is during sleep that our skin repairs and regenerates itself the fastest. Are these enough reasons to send ourselves to bed? If so try these tips to get a quality beauty sleep!
1) Avoid caffeine from midafternoon. It's been shown that caffeine affects your sleep whether you are aware of it or not. Instead replace it with a warm milky drink as this helps to reduce anxiety and help promote sleep.
2) Never eat just before bedtime. Give yourself at least two hours to digest your food and avoid snacking especially on sweets, as these will definitely keep you awake.
3) Have a lovely warm bath. Not only will this help you to relax by slowing your mind down but also raises your body temperature and your natural sleep preparation will kick in.
4) Make your bedroom your haven. Oprah is a big believer in this. And she is right. Ban the television and newspapers from the bedroom and never ever have work related items in there. Choose a colour that you find calming and have a few items in that colour around you. Eg: Sheets, cushions, lampshades, paintings and pyjamas.
5) Make sure you have plenty of fresh air in your bedroom and cut out bright lights either with a heavy curtain or a sleeping mask. Ensure your bedroom is quiet.
6) Clear your mind from stress and worry. Experiment with what works for you. I clear my mind by imagining a blind being pulled down over my thoughts until all I see is black. Some nights it takes a few goes but it always works. Others imagine a blank white canvas. And others count sheep. Whatever works for you.
If you keep thinking about the tasks ahead of you the following day, write yourself a 'To-Do List' and keep it by your bed. So if you wake up and think of something else, you can jot it down and go back to sleep. Sometimes it's not until we sleep well again that we appreciate the benefits of a good night's rest. The benefits will not only be noticed by you but others will see the difference too. After all don't we all deserve our "Beauty Sleep"?
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