As I sit over my third cup of coffee this morning, I am reminded of something that we often overlook as a very important part of healthy living. You see, we have a pregnant mare here on the ranch that was due to deliver over a week ago. I'm sure she's just as ready as we are for that baby to come out, but until it does, we are all having some very long nights. We take shifts watching her overnight, and work during the day. It's times like this that you really appreciate how sleep can affect both your physical and mental health.
We spend almost 33% of our lives asleep, but don't give sleep a moment's notice until we aren't getting it. A poor nights sleep can cause a weakened immune system, increased stress and mistakes, and that general crankiness that we all know so well.
Today I want to throw out a few tips to help you get into a better sleep routine. There are some big physical and mental benefits to a regular sleep pattern, but I will hit those in future posts. Not everyone needs the same amount of sleep, but having a pattern is really important.
We spend almost 33% of our lives asleep, but don't give sleep a moment's notice until we aren't getting it. A poor nights sleep can cause a weakened immune system, increased stress and mistakes, and that general crankiness that we all know so well.
Today I want to throw out a few tips to help you get into a better sleep routine. There are some big physical and mental benefits to a regular sleep pattern, but I will hit those in future posts. Not everyone needs the same amount of sleep, but having a pattern is really important.
HOW MUCH SLEEP DO I NEED?
There's that good old adage that says that you need 8 hours of sleep a night. While that's a good general guideline, there are many things that affect how much sleep you need a night. So called "short sleepers" can sleep as little as 5 hours a day, while "long sleepers" require up to 9 1/2 hours to be completely regenerated. Here are some big factors that affect how much sleep we need:
Genetics:
Yup, just like everything else, your inherent genetic need is a big factor.
Sleep Hygiene:
Your sleep hygiene is affected by those daily activities that you control, from drinking coffee and alcohol to exercise and smoking.
Circadian Rhythm:
Your circadian rhythm is your 24 hour daily rhythm. Click here to read more about how it affects your life.
All of these things add up to how much sleep we need to bank a night. It's different for each of us, but the telling factor can be as simple as sleeping in on weekends. If you sleep an extra three hours on Saturday morning before you wake up, you're not getting enough sleep. If your body wakes you up at the same time you usually get up, then you're in the rhythm!
There are many things that affect mental and physical health, and the key is getting your life into a rhythm that is beneficial to both. Remember tho, it all starts with sleep! Now, I'm off to go pour some more coffee... yawn.
Genetics:
Yup, just like everything else, your inherent genetic need is a big factor.
Sleep Hygiene:
Your sleep hygiene is affected by those daily activities that you control, from drinking coffee and alcohol to exercise and smoking.
Circadian Rhythm:
Your circadian rhythm is your 24 hour daily rhythm. Click here to read more about how it affects your life.
All of these things add up to how much sleep we need to bank a night. It's different for each of us, but the telling factor can be as simple as sleeping in on weekends. If you sleep an extra three hours on Saturday morning before you wake up, you're not getting enough sleep. If your body wakes you up at the same time you usually get up, then you're in the rhythm! There are many things that affect mental and physical health, and the key is getting your life into a rhythm that is beneficial to both. Remember tho, it all starts with sleep! Now, I'm off to go pour some more coffee... yawn.
