This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.
With daylight savings time coming to an end this weekend, we’re blessed with an extra hour of sleep. While many of us look forward to “falling back”, it’s important to remember that with any change in schedule, the body needs time to adjust as it messes up our circadian rhythms. To take advantage of that extra hour, get your bedtime/morning routine down pat. Try incorporating these habits into your routine to get your most restful sleep yet.
Keep Calm and Chill
Properly unwinding after a busy day is important to recharge – both physically and mentally – so shut off your cell phone and skip Netflix tonight. Try using a humidifier or diffuser with lavender to naturally soothe and relax your body. Even a bubble bath can do wonders for washing away the day’s stress.
If you *have* to use your phone or computer, make sure you have the “Night Shift” feature enabled on your phone (on iPhone it’s found under Settings > Display & Brightness > Night Shift.
On your computer you can get a dimmer or night shift app or program to cut back the blue light so it doesn’t disrupt your circadian rhythm (which in turn messes up your sleep), or you can pick up a pair of those blue-light flitering glasses* to wear in the evenings. I really should get a pair of these myself!
*affiliate link
Pain-Free Snoozing
These two are the spokeskitties for pain-free sleeping.
While many Canadians understand the importance of sleep, the benefits go far beyond just boosting our mood and giving us more energy to tackle the day. Quality sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Sleep deprivation actually changes how your body works and how it burns fat and carbohydrates among so many other things. For pain sufferers, a sound sleep can be hard to come by. Luckily, ALEVE® Nighttime is here to help you catch some z’s, and sleep a blissful slumber.
Watch Your Sweet Treats
A protein rich, low sugar smoothie is my go-to evening snack
Be cautious of what you’re eating and drinking before bed and try to avoid feeling hungry or too stuffed. Stomach discomfort can make you restless throughout the night and prevent you from getting the shut-eye you deserve! Many people find a nice dose of protein or slow digesting carbs can help them sleep more soundly, but limiting those high sugar and high fat foods is important for a restful night’s sleep. It can also help to stop eating 2 hours before bed to allow your body to start the process of digestion before you try to go to sleep.
Take Care of Your Eyes
After a long day of work and screen time, tired eyes are an inevitable outcome. If you suffer from dry eyes, the stinging, pain and redness in your eyes can impact the quality of your day. Use your sleep time to recharge your eyes for the day ahead. Try hydraSense® Night Therapy Gel Drops at night to alleviate the symptoms of dry eye, so you can wake up with a fresh outlook on the morning. Even using a sleeping mask at night can make a big difference both for allowing your eyes to rest, and to improve your sleep quality.
Get Out and Get Active
A happy flashback to my running days! Interestingly, this was taken at a race the morning after the time change! It seemed like a fitting photo to use in this post 🙂
Consider adding exercise to your weekly routine. Even a short workout session can dramatically improve the quality of your sleep. Make sure to put time aside in your schedule – and add it to your calendar – so you’re less likely to skip it. Organization is key! And the time of day really depends on the person. Some people thrive on early morning workouts, while others prefer evening workouts. The only time you need to be cautious of your evening workouts is if you find yourself energized after exercising. Then you would likely be better off exercising in the morning or afternoon to ensure you are chilled out for bedtime.
And added benefit to morning exercise – especially if you can do it outside, is that the light from the sun early in the morning once again helps to synchronize your circadian rhythm so your eyes will know the sun is up and will know it’s time to start getting ready to sleep in 14-16 hours.
So remember, don’t let that precious extra hour of sleep go to waste! Use it to get yourself into a positive groove and seize the day. Carpe diem, my friends!
What steps are you taking to make the most out of your day? Personally I’m pretty excited for that extra hour because I’ll be up early heading into the city for BlogJam, so it’s the prefect day to grab an extra hour!
This post is sponsored by Bayer. To make sure these products are right for you, always read and follow the label.