Some Reasons That You Need to Sleep More

This beauty knows the value of sleep to maintain her beauty and health.

Everyone has occasional restless nights, but women seem to experience this even more than men.  Part of this problem is due to the unique physiology of our female bodies.  Menstruation, pregnancy or the onset of menopause all can interfere with our sleep patterns besides more increased stress than decades earlier from balancing home, family and work.

However, skipping sleep on a fairly regular basis can take a toll.  If sleeplessness becomes your new norm, it can raise your risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.  

Obesity can also be in your future.  The reason you can put on more weight is because lack of sleep interferes with your hormone function and how the body burns fat.

Without ample hours of sleep, your brain can’t function to its full capacity for learning, cognition, memory and your response to the data it receives for doing things.  Proper sleep allows the brain to digest information and makes it easier for it to retrieve upon waking.

Though eight hours of sleep sounds like an unrealistic luxury, trying to reach for that goal can only improve the quality of your life, relationships and health.  

For more on the subject, please read my earlier post on sleep.

How to Improve Your Odds of Getting a Better Night’s Sleep!

Your bedroom should be free of distractions so you can concentrate on sleep.

We all experience those occasional nights when you simply can’t fall asleep. Sometimes, you can blame this condition on stress.  Other times, you can over stimulate your mind by working too hard into the night and carrying those thoughts with you to bed.  Then again, drinking too much of any beverage, especially coffee with all of its caffeine can keep your mind alert besides body active during your extra trips to the bathroom. If sleeplessness happens to you more than you like, I have some suggestions that will help the problem.

Get a Comfortable Night's Sleep--Mediflow Elite Waterbase Pillow (Review)

Disclaimer:  This post is based on a free product provided by a company as a press sample so that I may offer my own  opinion, which may be the same or differ from yours.

Mediflow Elite Waterbase Pillow

A good night of sleep is a beautiful thing.  Unfortunately, it is not always easy for some people.  I know that I have tried many different pillows in hopes of finding a comfortable fit.  Before my new pillow arrived, I used a memory foam one.  This was hardly perfect but the best one for cradling my neck, which sometimes can keep me up if I can't find the perfect position.  Since a published clinical study at John Hopkins School of Medicine found the Mediflow Elite Waterbase pillow effective to improve the quality of sleep, I needed to see what sort of rest I would experience with my neck.

The Mediflow Elite is a water pillow surrounded by lots of hypoallergenic polyester fiber filling.  At first glance, it looks like an ordinary pillow until turned over and you see the plug. By filling the water pouch, you adjust for softness or firmness by pouring out or adding water to your satisfaction.  After you find the right water level for you and lock it back up, you just slip on your pillow case and get ready to sleep.

Here's the back of the Mediflow Elite Waterbase Pillow.

I had assumed there might be sounds of water swishing back and forth once I got into bed.  Surprisingly, no bothersome sounds got in the way once I put my head down after maneuvering to find my sweet spot.  

I thought I got just enough firmness to support my neck properly.  When pillows are too firm or overly soft, I toss and turn.  With the Mediflow pillow, I could relax.  The pillow contoured to my neck and head.  You might say my neck felt at home there.

In fact, I fell asleep sooner than I normally do.  When I awoke, I did feel more rested than I I had in quite some time.  

Discovering this pillow was a wonderful experience and I will keep it exactly where it is on my bed.  I don't know how it will hold up in time because this has only been one week of use, but I really think it does help keep your neck more comfortable for a better night of sleep.  

The Mediflow Elite Waterbased pillow is sold exclusively at Bed, Bath, & Beyond and Bed, Bath, & Beyond.com.  It retails for $39.99.

If you have trouble sleeping for one reason or another, I do recommend trying a Mediflow Elite pillow and see if you wake up happier than you have in a while.

*Disclaimer:  A free product was provided to facilitate this review only--not my opinion.*

Learn to Beat Stress From Robbing You of Sleep!

Holding a pillow over his head won't help this stressed man sleep.

How many times have you gone to bed only to stare up at the ceiling due to one thought that stayed lodged in your head? 

If only people came with a switch that we could turn on and off at will, then that stress of the day would grant us that needed escape into sleep.  

Sadly there is no magic switch, but there are a few helpful insomnia cures that you should try. 

Things You Should Not Be Doing Before Bedtime

You should stay away from the computer will only stimulate your brain to keep you up.   

Do not read in bed and reserve your bedroom solely for sleep.  Eventually your subconscious will pick up on this and equate the bedroom with sleep.

Too many your beverages, especially coffee, tea or any caffeine related drink is bad and  interpret your sleep.

Teddy bear comfort won't get this beauty sleeping.

Avoid alcohol because it will only temporarily make you sleepy until it soon wakes up again from its effect on altering normal sleep patterns.

Don't keep staring at the ceiling, clock, or another spot in your bedroom waiting to feel sleepy longer than 15 minutes before giving up for now to go read or listen to music in another room.

Say no to using a part of your bedroom as on office, which can only get your brain thinking and restless.

Never rely on habitually using sleeping pills that can lead to dependence or affect how you function the next day.

The Place Where Your Bed Is Located Matters

If your bed is against a wall, put your legs up against it for support.  

Put pressure on the heel of one foot while massaging the inside portion of your other ankle below the anklebone.  

This action of elevating your legs and massaging will help you drift off to sleep.

Things That Can Help Usher in Sleep

Try a warm bath with aromatherapy from adding essential oils such as lavender or rose is one idea.

Finally, you can also try a spoon of honey.  Honey is broken down in your body in the same fashion as table sugar, which produces serotonin, the chemical that induces sleep.  This may explain the reason why the old folk medicine cure of a cup of hot milk with a spoon of honey became popular!