Healthy Lifestyle Made Simple
The recipe for a healthy life isn’t all that complicated: equal parts regular exercise, a healthy diet and a good night’s sleep. For many of us, however, it’s the sleep part that often is neglected.
One Third of Our Life Is Spent Sleeping
It’s incredible to think that we spend about a third of our lives in bed. You might be even tempted to say that it’s too much time. Life is short and there’s so much to do. I’d be so much more productive if I could discipline myself to sleep less, right?
Your Body Works Hard While You Sleep
The optimal amount of sleep may vary from person to person, but there’s no argument amongst health professionals that getting it is essential for a healthy life. While you sleep, your body isn’t idle. It is, in fact, hard at work.
Consider these life-sustaining processes your body performs while you sleep:
- Maintaining a robust immune system to fight off infections
- Cell and tissue repair and the building of muscle mass
- Balancing the hormones that trigger sensations of hunger and satiety to help maintain a healthy weight
- Controlling blood sugar levels thereby lowering the risk for diabetes
- Reducing stress on your heart and the threat of a heart attack
- Enhancing brain function to improve learning and problem-solving skills
Staying Asleep
As you can see, getting your Zzzz’s is as important as hitting the gym and eating your veggies, but many of us have difficulty falling and staying asleep. There are some relatively easy lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the amount of mental stimulation that can keep you awake, such as refraining from consuming caffeine and alcohol or too much screen time on your smartphone just before bed.
A Holistic Approach
But like most things in life, lasting solutions only come when you look at a problem holistically. When it comes to sleep, the secret to getting it goes beyond the mattress to include your pillow, the base and even the choice of sheets and comforters. Think of the collection of these pieces as a sleep system.
Get Expert Advice
Perhaps you’ve already started shopping and find the number of choices a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many reputable retailers out there who can help you navigate all the different options in sleep technology and help you build a personal sleep system that best fits your specific comfort needs.
Don’t Forget the Bedroom
The holistic approach also means evaluating your bedroom. Does it adequately restrict the amount of light and noise that can seep in? And maybe installing a large wall-mounted TV isn’t such a good idea after all.
Adopt a Pre-Bedtime Routine
Finally, adopt a pre-bedtime routine to allow your mind and body to wind down, relax and prepare for sleep.
You’ll soon discover that adopting these changes in lifestyle will prove to be an extremely cost-effective investment in your good health with dividends in increased energy, sharper mental focus and overall performance.
Want to upgrade the sleep environment in your RV for great nights’ sleep all camping season long? Here’s How to Upgrade your RV Sleeping Space!
