September is a bustling month! Our September classes have begun, and the summer has officially ended. This leads me to the theme of this month’s newsletter:
SLEEP HYGIENE
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Did you know there’s a term for your bedtime rituals and nightly habits? Collectively, these behaviors are known as sleep hygiene. We’ve all heard the saying, “All work and no play.” However, even with a healthy balance between work and play, getting good sleep is essential to maintaining health.
Here are a few signs of poor sleep hygiene:
- Frequent sleep disturbances
- Daytime sleepiness
- Taking too long to fall asleep
- Consistency: Go to bed and awake at the same time even on weekends
- Comfort: Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable, cool temperature. Remove distracting electronics from bedroom
- Avoid: Large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime, and avoid naps if possible during the daytime
- Exercise: Being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep
- Get Sunshine: It may seem counter-intuitive, given the importance of sleeping in a dark room, but a daily dose of sunshine can actually help you sleep better.
And, of course, there is one additional thing that may improve sleep:
getting a massage
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Learn more about the damaging effects of insufficient sleep by watching the video with sleep expert Dr. Matthew Walker below! Here’s for a well-rested fall!
