Catch your Z’s

            “Oh, I’ll just sleep when I’m dead,” is something I hear far too often.  Getting enough sleep is extremely important for your body’s mental and overall health.  With that being said, most people don’t get enough of it.  This is not necessarily completely their fault either.  Our worldly schedule does not align with how our circadian rhythm is supposed to be set.

            Let’s throw it way back to when there was no technology.  People relied on the sun to wake them up and put them to sleep.  Now, we have become so dependent on technology that we trust a small box to ring and wake us up.  Everyone does this, therefore, it makes it more difficult.  Also, businesses and schools start early in the morning, forcing students and employees to wake up before the sun is up.  This, yet again, goes against our internal clocks, making us feel overly exhausted and burnt out.

            So how do we help ourselves fall asleep and try to defy the odds of normalcy?  Blue light blocking glasses are a great way to assist in keeping the eyes rested.  Society revolves around technology these days, and that can really strain your eyes.  This is damaging and forces the body to resist rest.  By wearing these glasses, you are protecting your eyes and relaxing your mind.

            Getting yourself into a calming state is another way to put the body to rest.  This can be done by exercising before bed.  A nice pump to get your blood flowing naturally exhausts you.  Then a warm shower is the cherry on top to aid in putting you to sleep.  Listening to calming music or natural sounds is another way to help the mind relax.  Our minds are constantly working, and sometimes it becomes difficult to shut it off.  This helps your mind land its thoughts on something different and more soothing, eventually putting you to sleep.

            Last but not least, try to avoid taking naps.  I know it’s super hard to resist the urge to rest when you’ve been up all night.  However, this is a vicious cycle that will continue your negative sleep pattern.  Napping is a good thing sometimes when the body genuinely needs rest, but not when you’re just still tired from not sleeping the night before.  Remember, consistency is the key to success.  So go on and have a great night’s rest.  Good night!

-Written by Jessica Skrelunas