By Germain Galvez
Certified Health Coach
germaingalvez.com | Contributed
When our energy levels are low we often look to consume products that can help propel us through our day. Whether it is coffee, tea, energy drinks or even natural energy boosting foods, we look for something to provide a spark to ignite our energy. But, what if we could help energize ourselves by simply improving the quality of our sleep?
How are you sleeping?
Sleep is an important factor that is often overlooked in relation to lack of energy. The truth is, there is simply no substitute for restful sleep and most Americans aren’t sleeping. In fact, statistics say 70 million Americans are sleep deprived and are not getting the adequate sleep necessary for their health and well-being. Without restful sleep we are prone to losing the ability to focus as well as the energy we need during the day. Could consistent restful sleep be the catalyst you’re missing to energize your day?
The battle of the snooze.
We all have been there; the encounter with the snooze button. It provides us with momentary relief from the struggle to achieve wakefulness. The struggle to get out of bed stems from our bodies being heavy with fatigue. We hit the snooze button hoping that a couple more minutes of snoozing will somehow usher us into wakefulness. Many are doing this because we are lacking the restful sleep necessary to wake up with energy. So, if you find yourself hitting the snooze button often, you may not be getting the sleep your body needs to jumpstart your morning.
We can manage with less sleep, right?
In our fast-paced society of high stress and little time, sleep tends to take a backseat to the other activities that are priority in our day. Consequently, individuals have become accustomed to the notion that we can function properly on minimal sleep. People in this mindset tend to sleep less than 7 hours a day and use countermeasures such as caffeine to combat the negative effects.
The negative effects of sleep deprivation include mood imbalances, impaired cognitive ability, poor memory and low energy levels. Stimulants used to combat these effects can fail after just a few days, and the end result can be a state of chronic fatigue and stress. Have you ever had the feeling of drinking lots of caffeine but still feeling tired and fatigued? This could be caused by sleep deprivation.
Want to improve your sleep?
There is no substitute for restful sleep and improving your sleep can greatly impact your energy levels.
How can we improve our sleep? Here are a few tips that may help:
First ask yourself a couple questions: What’s preventing you from sleeping? What is on your mind that is keeping you awake at night?
Identify these things and address them in your life. Removing these stressors will enable you to sleep more peacefully and help reduce stress. Additionally, include a healthy diet to provide your body with the nutrients needed to balance bodily functions, such as sleep.
Avoid computers and bright lights at bedtime as this can cause imbalances in circadian rhythm and interfere with your brain’s melatonin (sleep hormone) production. Keeping a consistent sleep schedule can help you to fall asleep and wake up more easily. Supplements such as Magnesium, Valerian, Holy Basil, Skullcap and Passionflower may also be beneficial to help the body relax for a restful night’s sleep. Incorporating these elements into your day may enable your body to find the sleep that it needs.
So before you go looking for products to stimulate your day, I encourage you to first look to find healthy ways to experience a good night’s sleep. In doing this you may find the restful sleep you need, and your body just might reward you with the energy you’ve been missing.
