I’ve got a BIG wake-up call for you today — about SLEEP. Did you know that if you don’t get enough sleep, your risk for heart disease and heart attack goes up… no matter your age, your weight, how much you exercise, or whether you smoke?!!!
Plus, not getting enough sleep is linked with:
- Cognitive decline & dementia
- Depression
- Depression
I know I talk about sleep a lot, but the fact is…It’s one of the BEST things you can do for yourself — mind, body, and spirit! — is set yourself for a good night of sleep every night. You’ll recover from your workouts better… have a lot more energy the next day… you’ll make better decisions… you’ll be more focused… and you’ll be able to perform at your very best.
And getting enough sleep can help:
- Boost your immune system and mood
- Improve brain function
- Lower your risk of chronic diseases
Here are a few great ways to boost your sleep:
- Get fresh air and sunshine during the day
- Work out or squeeze in some activity early in the day
- Make sure you go to bed early enough so you can get 7+ hours of sleep
- Don’t drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks after lunch
- Limit (or avoid!) alcohol
- Don’t eat heavy foods before bed
- Create a nighttime wind-down routine to let your body know when it’s time to go to sleep
- Dim your screens at night or use a blue light filter
- Use app-blocking tools to avoid late-night scrolling on your phone
- Frikken step up your breathe game! Meditation, breath work, and nose breathing.
And maybe, most importantly, really listen to your body. When you have a GREAT night of sleep, notice what helped you make it happen… and do more of that!
