A bad night’s sleep will not only make you feel tired and grumpy, it could also affect your complexion, and even make you put on weight. If you wake up after a bad night’s sleep lacking energy, more often than not people will turn to sugary drinks or coffees for a quick burst of energy. Because you will be lacking in energy, you will probably not feel like cooking a healthy meal, so you might decide to throw your diet out the window and opt for fast food on the sofa. “When you have sleep deprivation and are running on low energy, you automatically go for a bag of potato chips or other comfort foods,” says Susan Zafarlotfi, PhD, clinical director of the Institute for Sleep and Wake Disorders at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. If this way of eating turns into a habit, you will put on weight fast.
Sleeping well is the first step to achieving your ideal body image. A good night’s sleep will make you feel better in your own skin, and give you the energy required to do things like cook healthy food and go to the gym, which are both necessities for looking good. Not everyone finds falling asleep at night easy, in fact, sleeping problems are more common than you might think. Everyone deserves to be able to sleep properly, and because we care about your health and lifestyle choices, we have put together this list of tips for getting a good night’s sleep.
Eat Well and Do More Exercise
Eating healthy can help you sleep at night. Whole grain foods and high-protein meals will help you fall asleep and stop you from waking up in the night feeling hungry. Salads and other fresh vegetables are also great options, as they help digestion. If you like spicy food, try to avoid it before bed as it could give you a stomach ache. Binging on chocolate every now and then is every woman’s secret pleasure, but don’t eat lots of sugary foods before bed; all that sugar will keep you awake at night.
Exercise is equally important, especially if stress is stopping you from sleeping at night. Doing as little as twenty minutes a day will help you unwind, and use up energy which will help you fall asleep. Yoga is a good choice for ladies who want to sleep better, as it relaxes your body and helps relieve stress.
Make the Perfect Nest
An uncomfortable bed could be the root of your sleeping problems. Back pain can stop you from sleeping properly, and make it impossible to fall asleep because you just can’t get comfortable! It may sound obvious, but simply changing your mattress could make the world of difference to your sleeping patterns. Memory foam mattresses like this one from Eve, are comprised of three layers and provide incredible support for the sleeper. The mattresses also contain cooling air holes, which help keep the body at a comfortable temperature on hot nights.
Keep a Routine
Sticking to relaxing, calming activities just before bedtime will help you fall asleep. Try having a bubble bath, meditating, or burning a scented candle while reading a book; soothing activities will help your mind and body to calm down. So avoid the tablet, TV, smartphone, or laptop as much as possible before sleeping, as these will increase brain activity – the opposite of what you need before sleep! Going to bed and waking up at the same time will also help you sleep better in the long run, by adjusting your natural body clock to allow your body to sleep for the hours you need, every night.
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