“Sleep plays a major role in preparing the body and brain for an alert, productive, psychologically, and physiologically healthy tomorrow.”  Dr. James B. Maas

How many hours of sleep are you getting each night?  What would your life look like if you were getting more, high quality sleep each night?

But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.  (Jonah 1:5b; NIV)

Sleep and drinking water are two of the best anti-aging secrets within our control!  Last week we looked at the importance of getting a good night’s sleep and the effects of not getting enough sleep.  A good night’s sleep revitalizes our tired bodies, gives us more energy and helps us think more clearly during the day.

So, what are some things that we can do to insure a better night’s sleep?  As I mentioned last week, getting to bed between 10:00 and 10:30 is one of the best things we can do.  Our bodies will get better rest and sleep the earlier we “hit the hay”.

Consistent, daily exercise helps the body to sleep better, enabling the body to fall asleep faster and spend more time in the restorative and repairing stages of sleep.  However, exercise should be done at least three hours before going to bed.  Otherwise you run the risk of raising certain hormone levels that could keep you awake.  If possible, most bodies do better getting exercise in the morning. I can personally attest to the fact that I always sleep better on the days that I’ve worked up a “good sweat” in the morning.

Create your bedroom for sleep.  When you walk into your bedroom it should exude sleep and rest, not work, clutter, or confusion.  The bedroom should not be a storage shed for all the unfinished projects, piles of papers to wade through, or loads of laundry to be folded.  The bedroom should say, relax, rest, and sleep.  Computers should not be in the bedroom.  Nor should the TV.  Watching TV before bed can stimulate the brain making it difficult for you to fall asleep.

The bedroom should also be as dark as possible.  Even the smallest amount of light in the room can disrupt your circadian rhythm and the pineal gland’s ability to produce melatonin and serotonin which help to make you sleep better.  I bought heavy draperies for our windows since so much light comes in from the outside streetlights.  Even that wasn’t enough.  So, we invested in some nice, heavy blinders for our eyes.  I used to see pictures of those and laugh and wonder why anyone would use them.  Now, I know!  They work great!

If you’re a reader before going to bed, choose your “words” wisely.  Suspense novels and mysteries will only stimulate the brain more making it difficult to fall asleep.  Instead choose a devotional, read scripture, or something light and heart warming.

Prayer Power
Lord, You are so loving and wonderful.  We thank You for Your design for us to have time to rest and replenish our bodies and our spirits.
 
Link of the Day
33 Secrets to a Good Night’s Sleep

Blessings on you as you enjoy your rest and sleep.