Stress Awareness : Sleep & Stress

April 16th is Stress Awareness Day! Stress can effect an individual on so many different levels. Take this time to reflect on the stressors in your life and what you can do to manage them. One way to help keep stress under control is SLEEP! According to The National Sleep Foundation “If you don’t sleep enough at night, your body boosts its levels of stress hormones”. Only furthering the cycle of stress leading to poor sleep and then poor sleep leading to stress or anxiety. Resources:                     National Sleep Foundation https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/depression-and-sleep Anxiety and Depression …

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Managing Stress for Better Sleep

Is stress keeping you up at night? If so, follow these steps to reduce stress and improve the quality of your sleep. Identify your stressors and work toward eliminating them. Do you struggle to make ends meet? Do you live with pain? Do you dislike your boss? These are common stressors that can impact your sleep. Talk about your stressors with the people who care for you. Practice positive thinking to improve how you feel and to reduce stress levels. Avoid negative thoughts such as “I’m a horrible parent” or “We’ll never get out of this mess.” Stay active. Exercise …

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Summer Sleep Tips

The summer often brings a change in the weather and a change in our routines. For those with a sleep disorder, this can mean a disruption to healthy sleep patterns. Here are a few tips to maintain restful nights throughout the summer months. Don’t Over Indulge Summer is a time of celebration. Summer picnics and parties often include alcoholic beverages. Too much drinking can cause fragmented sleep that will not leave you rested in the morning. Drink modest amounts early in the evening leaving plenty of time for water before bed. Eating Before Bed The days stay lighter much later …

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2017: Get More Sleep

It’s resolution time yet again. Each year we make promises to improve our lives in the coming year. We vow to exercise more, eat less, make new friends and reduce stress along the way. It’s no secret that resolutions are often made but rarely kept. This year throw out the long list of resolutions. Stick with one promise to yourself—to get more sleep. Make 2017 the year of sleep. This year strive for 8-hours of quality sleep each night. Start by improving your sleep environment with a new mattress, white noise machine or thicker shades to block out light.  Next, …

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