Sleep: The best drug you can’t buy…
…and getting good sleep can change everything. Everything. But sleep is less about how long you sleep and more about timing.
According to Chinese medicine at 10pm your gallbladder detoxes and your nervous system starts to rebuilding itself. It is best to already be asleep when this happens. Additionally, the sleep cycles before midnight are when the deepest, most restorative sleep happens.
So, sleep before 10pm is most valuable.
Here’s are a few tips to optimize sleep:
- No caffeine after 1pm
Caffeine has a six hour half-life. That 3pm caffeinated beverage is still running laps in your nervous system at 9pm.
- Low lights after sundown
Red lights are all the rage for a reason. Cutting bright overhead light and blue light/screens is key. White and blue light suppress melatonin and tells your brain it’s still noon. So, no blue light within two hours of bed. You can also add orange glasses to help with this as well. As soon as the sun sets, put them on.
- No big meals within 3 hours of bed
But a small snack 30 minutes before is fine. It stabilizes blood sugar overnight and prevents the 3am wake-up.
- Sip on relaxing teas or use magnesium
Lemon balm and Chamomile tea quiets the nervous system, as does magnesium. Other supplement options include, food grade Lithium and GABA.
- A Cool, dark, ventilated room
68°F. Blackout shades. Crack a window–CO2 builds up in closed rooms overnight and quietly wrecks your sleep quality.
- Fiction book (over social media/screens)
Fiction pulls your mind somewhere else and lets it actually unwind. Meditation works too. Either way, try and reduce the screen exposure.
Your body knows how to sleep. You just have to stop getting in the way:)
If you want more information call the office today 517 721 1904.
Investing in your health is worth it and it is never too late to start.
Small steps. Simple changes. Big results.