5 things that happens to your body when you don’t get a good nights rest and a guide on how to get to bed earlier, consistently and sleep more soundly.

I’ll be the first to hold my hands up and say one of my challenges is making sure I go to bed as early as possible as often as possible. I always think I’m gonna miss something… What exactly, I’m not sure! I also seem to find something “better” to do than to get to bed. Or I get myself lost in a task, or lost in a TV program, and before I know it, it’s well gone past midnight…. Then, because I’ve not wound down before bed time, it takes me an age to get off to sleep…. Meaning, I am one very tired, tetchy person the next day….. Sound familiar?  

Hands up who’s a bit rubbish at making sure they get to bed early?

To encourage you (AND MYSELF!) to get to bed earlier, consistently, I am going to share what can happen when we don’t get our ass’s to bed early:

1. The bottom line is, when you don’t get enough sleep it may cause you to gain weight! YES, LACK OF SLEEP CAN AFFECT YOUR WEIGHT! Your body needs to maintain homeostasis and when we don’t get enough sleep; it affects the level of hormones in your body which may prompt it to store body fat cells.
2. Not enough sleep will probably make you a little miserable, not to mention, moody, impatient, and irritable….. When you’ve not had enough sleep, you hardly ever want to dash out of the house and do the things you LOVE and be part of the world?!
3. Think immune system, think of it being less effective because you’ve had less sleep! Think catching every cough, cold and virus going around. Nobody wants that! When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies are less effective at fighting off the bugs due to altered immune function.
4. It affects the heart… Research has shown that people who have serious sleep issues have the possibility of having reduced cardiovascular health. Think high blood pressure, higher stress hormones and your heart beating out of time…..

In order to help us all get to bed a little earlier, consistently and sleep more soundly, more often; I’ve collated the sleep hygiene guidelines and tricks

• Allow enough time for sleep. Set a curfew on your phone alarm 15 minutes prior to the time you know you should really be going to bed. This will mean you have plenty of notice to start the winding down process. Most people need 7-9 hours of sleep each night. So really think through what time you should be heading up to bed in advance.

• Banish all gadgets near or at bedtime! Avoiding watching TV in bed, using the computer, ipad or phone! These things stimulate your brain making it even more difficult for you to get a  good restful night’s sleep.

• Try to not alter the routine too much at the weekend, especially at the start of getting into good sleeping habits. We are trying to get your body to work with you to support you, so we don’t want to create any confusion in the early stages of improving your sleep.

• Follow an exercise routine, but not within 3 hours before bedtime as it takes time for your body to come down after a workout. Daily exercise improves sleep, helps with stress management and overall health and wellbeing.

• Get your boudoir in order! Arranging your bedroom ensuring that is very dark, comfortable, quiet, and cool to help you fall asleep quickly and importantly, stay a sleep. Being too hot can be detrimental to a good night’s sleep.

• And finally, try eating a Kiwi fruit an hour before bedtime. Research has indicated that Kiwi fruits contain antioxidants and serotonin that will aid a better night’s sleep.

So, how many early night are you going to commit to? I am committing to at least 4 early nights a week….. Zzzzzzzzzz

With love & big ZZZZZZZZZZZ’s, Jo xoxo