It’s called ‘sleep inertia’ and it can last up to two or more hours. How many times do you hit the snooze button because you feel too groggy to wake up? Well, you’re not alone. Sleep scientists call it sleep inertia and the weird fact is that it can last up to two hours even if you drink three or four cups of coffee. It’s tiresome to wake up feeling tired. It’s as though you haven’t been to sleep at all. Actually, your genes may play a part in your sleep tendencies, such as whether you’re a lark (a morning person) or a night owl (a night person). And new sleep evidence is also revealing the traditional 8 hours of...
Doesn’t everyone naturally sleep longer and better in winter? Unfortunately, not. Bears have the right idea. Cooler temperatures signal winter’s ahead and they start preparing for deep, restful sleep, cozied up in a snuggly, dry cave. But, people, on the other hand don’t have it quite so calculated. Even the thoughts of longer nights, cozy blankets, and warming up by the fireplace with a warm drink don’t magically transport everyone into better sleep. As unlikely as it might seem, many people have difficulty sleeping well during the winter months. But not to worry, if you’re one of them, as we have some ideas to share that will help you get the good night’s rest you need, not just in winter,...
Hmmm, could there be something that actually works outside of a sleep lab? Let’s see. Sleeping poorly is a vicious cycle of feeling stressed and anxious, going to bed with your mind in a tumble, thrashing around to get to sleep, then waking up feeling tired, stressed, and anxious. How do you escape it? The cycle of sleeping poorly simply feeds on itself. You’re tired and stressed because you sleep poorly and you sleep poorly because you’re tired and stressed. But could there be a way to trick your brain into restful sleep? Some scientists say yes. New sleep research from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University has found that giving people a chance to look at their own...
Just before you’re ready to call it a day and climb into bed, what bedtime drink do you like to have? A cup of hot chocolate, perhaps? A nip of brandy? Chamomile tea? Or maybe a good old standby like a glass of milk (cold or warm)? If you answered, yes to any of the above, you’re good to go with all but one. You may have guessed -- it’s the brandy. Although brandy seems like a good bedtime drink and over the years, we’ve been sold on its soothing effects, the fact is that in the long run it will actually prevent you from getting the deep sleep you need to feel rested. The CDC (Center for Disease Control)...
My family and I just returned from a whirlwind vacation in California. I loved stepping out of my daily routine and eating new foods, sleeping in new places and exploring new locales. But when I arrived back home this weekend, I felt a visceral pull to return to my favorite morning practices. Why? Because as a self-care devotee for the last 17 years, I’ve learned that how I “enter” the day is how I “do” the day. Do you flop, race or ease into your day? If we make wise choices, this morning time can set the course for how creative, positive, productive and happy we are in the hours to follow. How we begin our day is key to...
