We all spend a lot of money on beauty products and a lot of time trying to discover the secrets of looking good. But the answer as always is staring us in the face. One of the best things you can do for your skin and general wellbeing is to make sure you are getting enough beauty sleep, although this is not as easy as it sounds.
Not Getting Enough Sleep
If you find you are struggling to get a full night's sleep, you are not alone. Women are twice as likely to struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep as men. We've all been there, lying in our beds, staring at the ceiling in the gloomy dark, slowly getting more frustrated and annoyed that we can't just fall asleep, whilst the clock next to us ticks through to the early hours of the morning. It's made even worse for those of us who have partners with an innate ability to just happily fall asleep wherever and whenever they want.
For women, the stats aren't great. About 30% of employed women complain of bad sleep patterns and this only gets worse as we get older. Then, of course, if you are pregnant or you have young children, it could be a while before you have a decent night's sleep.
Small Steps To a Better Night's Sleep
However, the situation can be improved and you can take small steps to help fade the bags under your eyes away and to help catch the zzz's. First of all, cigarettes and alcohol or other stimulants such as caffeine should be the first to go near bedtime as they may well prevent you from falling asleep.
You may also find that you suffer from sleep fragmentation and nightmares if you smoke, eat or drink close to bedtime.
Also, try not to eat any heavy meals at least four hours before bedtime. An overactive digestive system is bound to keep you awake.
Exercising for 20 minutes each day will help too. During your lunch break, go for a stroll around the block or to the nearest green space. It keeps the stress hormones away and releases endorphins that will put you in a happier mood.
At night time make sure your room is dark, noise is minimal (try investing in some noise reducing curtains if you live in a busy part of town) and the room is cool. Experts tell us the ideal bedtime room temperature is around 18-20 degrees Celsius.
Switch Off
Avoid anything that may stimulate the senses, such as TV or even reading. Put the laptop away and switch your mobile off, as it has long been suggested that the growing amount of electronic goods is contributing to our inability to sleep. So, if you can, take them out of the room or at least switch them off at the plug socket.
Getting a good night's sleep is one of the fastest tracks to more beautiful skin and a healthier glow. Take a look at your sleep patterns and try to see if there's anything you can do to change things in order to make sure you are getting enough beauty sleep.
Leave a Reply