Now more than ever before, (good) sleep has become a real luxury. Stress, busy schedules, work and other factors influence heavily our sleep wellness, making us feel less well-rested and energized.
Numbers speak for themselves: The American Sleep Association (ASA) reported that 35.3% of American adults sleep less that 7 hours during a 24-hour period, and that also between 50-70 million adults suffer from some kind of sleep disorder.
Why should sleep be a priority?
1. Energy and concentration
It's no secret that the lack of sleep can influence our energy levels throughout the day and also our focus and attention span. When we are sleep deprived, everything seems to be more difficult: being productive at work becomes harder, concentrating at school becomes almost impossible and working out feels more difficult: that's why it's essential to get enough sleep in order to face our everyday challenges and be functional human beings.
2. It improves your mental health
Sleep deprivation can not only make us grumpy and irritable the day after a sleepless night, but in the long term can also heavily affect mood swings, anxiety levels and our ability to deal with stressful situations.
Sleep and appropriate rest is therefore necessary to stay sane and enjoy life in the best possible way.
3. It boosts your immune system
Not getting enough sleep can reduce your body's ability to fight colds and seasonal illnesses: If you sleep 5 hours or less, you are 70% more likely to get pneumonia. In fact, not only people who don't sleep enough are more likely to have a weaker immune system, but studies have also shown that sleep deprivation can also affect how fast we recover from such illnesses. This means that the less sleep you get, the more at risk you could be.
4. It prevents health diseases
Getting enough sleep also means lowering the chances of developing (chronical) diseases such as diabetes or heart diseases.
The lack of sleep is in fact associated with inflammation, higher blood pressure and increased heart rate, which are no good for our cardiac system.
How we can prioritize sleep?
Sleeping well (and enough) is therefore synonim of mental and physical wellness: so how can we actually make sleep become a priority in our busy lives?
Establish a realistic sleep routine
For certain things in life, routine is key. Sleep is one of those. If you really want to make sleep a priority in your life, start by creating a realistic sleep routine you can actually stick to. Decide on a minimum number of hours you want to sleep, go to bed always at the same time and try to organize your day and tasks also around the hours of rest that you need.
Reduce your screentime
Put down your phone and close your laptop! Even though in these days it seems impossible to disconnect yourself, try to reduce your screentime before going to bed.
Bright lights, loud sounds and social media do not exactly make your brain go into sleep mode, therefore make an effort to stop using electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime. Opt instead for a book or some night meditation for the ultimate relaxation.
Create a comfy environment
Are you struggling to go to bed? Try to create an environment around you that makes you feel relaxed. Avoid bright colors, opt instead for walls in calming tones such as beige, tranquil whites, soft greys and blues. Don't forget about dimming lights and why not, also a diffuser with your favourite relaxing essential oils.
Eat (and drink) better
Food and drinks also have an impact on the quality of our sleep: how many times have you had a bad night's sleep after a heavy meal or too many drinks? Try to avoid sleep killers such as caffeine and alcohol, and if you still want to indulge on a glass of wine or coffee, make sure to do it at least a couple of hours before your actual bedtime.
On the other hand, there are some foods that can actually make you sleep better: olives, barley, tomatoes, walnuts, milk and cherries are rich in melatonin, a hormone that helps with the timing of your circadian rhythms and with sleep. In addition, an essential amino acid called Tryptophan (found in bananas, turkey, cashew, almonds and fish) acts as a natural mood regulator and is the precursor to melatonin.
Move your body
Regular exercise can actually improve your sleep quality, studies have in fact demonstrated that practicing sport and working out at least 150 minutes a week can increase the total sleep time by up to 1.25 hours and improve sleep quality by 65%. Creating an exercise routine might not happen overnight, but that's a good reason to start asap and see the results in the long run.
Wear the right sleepwear
Wearing the wrong nightwear can really negatively impact our sleep: heavy and synthetic fabrics, scratchy seams, uncomfortable fits can actually give you a hard time when sleeping. To step up your sleep attire, opt instead for soft, natural and breathable fabrics that feel like a second skin.
Dagsmejan is the ideal luxury sleepwear
Have you ever dreamed of luxury sleepwear that make you feel as if you were sleeping on a cloud? Then Dagsmejan is what you're looking for. Winner of the "THE BEST LUXURY SLEEPWEAR IN THE WORLD" award, our mission is to improve the way we sleep in a totally natural and sustainable way. Using the most advanced textile technologies and natural fibres, we are able to provide you with the optimal nightwear. Soft, lightweight and breathable, our luxury pajamas are scientifically proven to improve your sleep and life night after night.
DAGSMEJAN LUXURY SLEEPWEAR
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Bedroom photo by SEASHELL IN LOVE - Kristin on Unsplash
