Sleep - the foundation of our health

When houses or buildings are built the foundation is always laid first. If there was no floor the building would crumble. This is how I believe our health works. If we don't get enough sleep it will affect so much more than just our day. Sleep is the foundation of good health. Sounds simple, get a good nights sleep and your health will love you for it. There is so much that affects our sleep: stress, work, children, electronic devices, drugs, alcohol, medication, food, your bed, exercise, age, anxiety, health conditions, travel. Pretty much everything in life!!

So what can you do about it? Firstly, you need to look at what you can influence or change. Look at doing a sleep audit. For example, my work might be stressful. Is it stressful all the time? is it more than that? Then you need to work out a plan for making change. In the example of stressful work, if it's a short term stressful situation then focus on ensuring you are eating well and resting lots and doing some form of movement. Our minds are built to remember things that make us feel good or as a way to forget. So try not to resort to those habits (drinking alcohol, eating too much sugar or using drugs).

Now this next tip is going to seem a bit simplistic. Have you ever heard the saying if you think you can you're right and if you think you can't you're right again!? It's about what we say to ourselves - self talk. So, if you are in the habit of saying things like "Oh I never have a good nights sleep" or " I have trouble sleeping" then guess what these will definitely be true. Write down the following and each time that negative mantra comes up replace it with this one:

I sleep well every night and wake feeling refreshed every day

A good idea is also to write down three things each night you are grateful for. This can send you to sleep on a positive note each night.

Sleep is rest and restoration time. Eating too late can mean that your body spends valuable sleep time trying to digest your food so try to finish eating 3 hours before you go to bed. Also know that having a big night of drinking alcohol can mean that you think you slept but actually you are sedated. This is not restorative sleep. This is why the night after a big night always feels like an amazing nights sleep.

So, sleep, the foundation of health really needs to be in order. Here are a few more suggestions:

• try not to drink caffeinated products after midday

• aim to establish a regular bed time and wake up time

• staying off devices is ideal and not always possible but try anyway :-)

• make sure your sleep environment is comfortable

You can also search "sleep hygiene" for more ideas.

Sweet Dreams friends

#sleep #foundationsofhealth #yourhealthisyourwealth #naturopath #isleepwelleverynight