Breaking The Sleep Stress Cycle
We are living in remarkably challenging and stressful times. COVID-19 has upended all of our daily lives and activities. It would be no surprise if these unexpected and additional stressors did not affect our sleep cycles negatively. After all, we’re only human and we need our sleep!
First, it’s important to understand how stress affects our sleep cycle. When we are faced with a stressful situation, our cortisol levels rise and allow us to respond in times of stress. However, if before bedtime we have high levels of cortisol, this interferes with the release of melatonin, a hormone essential for the sleep-wake cycle. It’s important to ensure that these hormones are in balance in order to achieve a good night's sleep.
Resources:
If you are interested in learning more about how to break the sleep stress cycle, I suggest you review the following articles:
11 Natural Ways to Lower Your Cortisol Levels
Quality sleep is one of the best defenses there is against stress and studies have shown that the average adult needs eight hours.
Quality sleep improves concentration and productivity.
It regulates your mood and sharpens your judgement and decision-making skills.
It also enhances your athletic performance.
On the other hand, a poor night’s sleep can reduce your energy level and make you more emotionally reactive during the day, thus less prone to making good decisions.
Inadequate sleep can also negatively affect your relationships at home and at work.
There are many techniques out there to encourage the onset of a good night’s rest (i.e. meditation, essential oils, mind puzzles, etc.).
Here are a few helpful reminders to ensure that you get a good night’s sleep and are ready to take on the challenges of the day: avoid stimulants and alcohol, avoid bright lights at night, limit naps, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, and exercise regularly.
We also have an excellent supplement - Muscle Eze Advanced - that you can take to help your body relax before bed.
To learn more - review this information sheet about the product
Getting a good night’s sleep is the best thing we can do for our health and physical and emotional well-being.