Why Sleep Needs To Be The First Step In Your Wellness Journey

What if we told you there was a solution that could help you optimize your workouts, reduce risk of injury, keep your skin fresh, your body weight balanced and help extend your life all for free? Well guess what, you already have access! We all have time set aside at night that is meant for sleep but, unfortunately, we engage in many behaviours that cut it short. Sleep is not only a pillar of health but the foundation that all other pillars stand on. Sleep is where all of the repair and healing happens and that includes skin, body weight and overall physical and mental health. There are three reasons why sleep should be essential to your beauty and wellness routine. 

keeps us looking fresh! After a poor night’s sleep, even multiple poor night’s sleep you can see it in your face. When it comes to the idea of “beauty sleep” there was actually a study done that proved it is essential! A study found that when we don’t sleep adequately, we are perceived to have less refreshed looking skin (more wrinkles, dark circles, pale complexion, etc.). When we sleep for 7-9 hours, our skin has a chance to repair itself, moisturize all combat signs of aging. Getting adequate sleep is the first step to combating aging! 

optimizes our workout routines! With adequate sleep, our bodies are able to repair injured muscles and recover from any workouts. When we get enough sleep, we also have more energy to get our bodies moving and in turn will help you stay on track with your movement goals. Movement also helps with improving the quality of sleep we get. So, it’s a win-win! 

reduces cravings! With weight gain, this can increase the risk of developing sleep apnea which can severely affect your quality of sleep. Weight management is usually a key component to any health and wellness plan. When we don’t get adequate sleep, our bodies produce increased ghrelin (appetite inducing hormone) and less leptin (hormone helps us feel full). When these hormones are out of balance, we are more likely to crave foods high in calories and carbohydrates. This makes it that much harder to stick to your plans and make healthier choices when we open the fridge. 

Here are a few simple strategies you can implement today to help support higher quality rejuvenating sleep:

1. Get outside in the morning to soak up the daylight. This can support a deeper sleep as well as get your wake cycle turned on for the day!
2. Dim the lights and limit bright light exposure about 2 hours before you want to get some sleep. This will help natural melatonin production as well as promote a deeper higher quality sleep.
3. Engage in a bedtime routine that is relaxing and calming for you. This may include some journaling, a warm bath, yoga, meditation, reading, crafting… anything that brings you joy and calm.

If you are having trouble sleeping, make sure to reach out to a sleep coach for help. They can help you build a solid foundation for your wellness routines! —Nicole Shallow

For more sleep tips be sure to follow Nicole on Instagram and online.