• Twitter Social Icon
  • Wix Facebook page
  • Instagram Social Icon

CLEVER | CLASSY | CONFIDENT 

  • FEATURES

  • OKW MAGAZINES

  • CONTACT US

  • ABOUT US

  •  

    Lack of sleep keeping you up?

    This morning you likely woke with a smile and jumped out of bed before your alarm. You were showered, dressed and in the kitchen enjoying a healthy breakfast and steaming cup of coffee with time to spare before heading out the door to start your day. If this was you, congratulations! The fact of the matter is, sleep, or lack thereof, has become somewhat of an epidemic and is, in one way or another, affecting all of us.


    Statistics Canada's website reports that, “According to results of the 2007-to-2013 CHMS, 43% of men and 55% of women aged 18 to 64 reported trouble going to sleep or staying asleep ‘sometimes/most of the time/all of the time’. That's roughly half the population of Canada lying in bed counting sheep every night. And when we do drift off, researchers found that nearly half did not find their sleep refreshing and one-third said they found it difficult to keep from dozing off during the day. Reports aren't much better for our nation's children either. One in three kids have difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep, one in five find it difficult to stay awake during the day and one in 10 say they do not feel rested in the morning.


    So, what do all these numbers and statistics really mean from a health perspective?

    Sleep affects almost every area of the body and mind and without it, we will die. That's extreme of course, but just to put things in perspective, the body can go days and sometimes even weeks with out food and/or water. Miss even one day of sleep however, and a performance test would score you the same as someone whose blood alcohol level was over the legal limit. Cognitive functions like logic and reasoning, moods, attention, memory, focus, concentration, balance, speech, vision, along with reaction and response time are all negatively affected due to lack of sleep.


    Sleep also helps regulate our weight. Like with stress, lack of sleep causes the body to release cortisol, and store fat. Also, without enough sleep, the body cannot properly metabolize and use the food we give it, thereby negatively affecting our immune function as well. In addition, chronic sleeplessness puts adults at risk for heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes and puts kids at a higher risk for becoming overweight, developing diabetes, as well as attention and learning problems. For kids and adults, sleep is just as important as eating right and getting enough exercise. It's when we sleep that our brains are able to release toxins, lowering our chances for disease. Losing sleep is so much more than just being tired.



    Beginning to dread laying your head on that pillow tonight? If sleep is something that eludes you, here are seven strategies you can put in place immediately to help you get the rest you need.


    Make sure your room is completely dark

    Sleep comes to us in five stages, the first two being light sleep, the second two deeper and REM sleep. To simplify, the brain cycles down through light sleep, into deeper sleep and then back up through light sleep again and into REM, optimally repeating these cycles several times before waking. The brain is designed to start preparing for sleep when the sun goes down and wake up when the sun rises. Lights from phones, iPads, laptops, alarm clocks, etc., all emit blue light that mimics sunlight, and interrupts our sleep cycles, or circadian rhythm.


    Keep the temperature in your bedroom a few degrees cooler than regular room temperature

    Our body temperature normally drops when we sleep so creating that environment helps our bodies adapt and go to sleep more quickly.


    Establish a routine for turning in and waking up

    Our bodies love consistency and maintaining a schedule really helps it to wind down and prepare for sleep.


    Establish a “no power hour” before bed

    Opting for a book, newspaper, magazine over an iPhone, iPad, or laptop an hour before bed, eliminates that blue light and provides time for the brain to prepare for sleep.


    Have a hot bath or cold shower

    Raising the body temperature in a long hot bath then quickly lowering it by stepping into the cool air, gets the body and brain ready for sleep. A 10 mins cold shower will do the same thing if time is an issue.


    Empty your thoughts

    Take five or ten minutes before bed to jot down any and all thoughts that are swirling around in your mind preventing you from relaxing. This simple act tells your brain you've acknowledged the thoughts and will get back to them later.


    Practice deep breathing and meditation

    Just 20 minutes of quiet breathing and focus can help make a significant difference in the relax response, allowing the body to drift off sooner. If you don't currently practice meditation, the Insight Timer app is a great place to start.



    So instead of hitting the snooze button each morning, loading up on caffeine at work, and collapsing onto the couch every evening, too exhausted to spend time with family or friends, wake up! I encourage you to choose the strategy(ies) that speaks to you and try it for a month. Sleep on it and see for yourself.


    Rest assured, good things will happen.



    TANIA GUSTAFSON

    Nutritionist & Fitness Coach (IBNFC)

    Tania, owner/founder of FIT Nutrition, is a global nutritionist and fitness coach, fitness instructor, workshop facilitator, educator, speaker, writer and success creator. Tania is currently one of only five health professionals licensed and certified in Canada to coach a proven, three-phase program providing education on the importance of blood sugar stabilization, not dieting. For more information go to fuelignitethrive.com.


    • ARTICLES
    Featured Posts
    Cover Story - Passion at its Finest

    Cover Story - Passion at its Finest

    HOPE in the Face of Addiction

    HOPE in the Face of Addiction

    Kick Up Your Heels!

    Kick Up Your Heels!

    Spring Extreme Makeover 2019

    Spring Extreme Makeover 2019

    Cover Story - Don't fence me in...

    Cover Story - Don't fence me in...

    {"items":["5fda9593db486f00177236d0","5fda959303af4d0017ee5d35","5fda95935e8bef001733597b","5fda95935e8bef001733597c","5fda95935e8bef0017335976"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Strips","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"fill","cubeRatio":"100%/100%","isVertical":false,"gallerySize":30,"collageDensity":0.8,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":true,"imageMargin":0,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"rotatingScatter":"","chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":false,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":true,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":1,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":120,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":0,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":false,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":true,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":3,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":"SHOW_ON_HOVER","galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":true,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":1,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":18,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":160,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":0,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":50,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"jsonStyleParams":"","gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":220,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":5,"targetItemSize":220,"selectedLayout":"5|bottom|1|fill|false|1|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":5,"isSlideshowFont":true,"externalInfoHeight":0,"externalInfoWidth":0},"container":{"width":220,"height":284,"galleryWidth":220,"galleryHeight":123,"scrollBase":0}}
    Recent Posts
    Grilled Eggplant Gyros with Fresh Tzatziki

    Grilled Eggplant Gyros with Fresh Tzatziki

    Mediterranean Salad with Sumac Tahini Dressing

    Mediterranean Salad with Sumac Tahini Dressing

    Rum soaked Summer Pineapple Rings

    Rum soaked Summer Pineapple Rings

    Caprese Caesar Cocktail

    Caprese Caesar Cocktail

    Vitamins - E & K

    Vitamins - E & K

    Vitamins - C & D

    Vitamins - C & D

    VITAMINS - A & B

    VITAMINS - A & B

    Super Smart Summer Smoothie

    Super Smart Summer Smoothie

    Feel Your Best Self with Outdoor Workouts

    Feel Your Best Self with Outdoor Workouts

    Biophilia Tower Power

    Biophilia Tower Power

    {"items":["5fda9593ad459400170a2baa","5fda9593ad459400170a2ba7","5fda9593ad459400170a2ba5","5fda9593ad459400170a2ba9","5fda9593ad459400170a2ba8","5fda9593ad459400170a2bab","5fda9593ad459400170a2bae","5fda9593ad459400170a2ba6","5fda9593ad459400170a2bac","5fda9593ad459400170a2bad"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Columns","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"max","cubeRatio":1.7777777777777777,"isVertical":true,"gallerySize":30,"collageAmount":0,"collageDensity":0,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":false,"imageMargin":22,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"rotatingScatter":"","chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":true,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":false,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":0,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":50,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":0,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":false,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":false,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":4,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":["SHOW_ON_THE_RIGHT","SHOW_BELOW"],"galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":false,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":0,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":23,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":200,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":60,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":75,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"jsonStyleParams":"","gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":1000,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"itemBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_12","value":"rgba(179,217,204,0)"},"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":2,"calculateTextBoxHeightMode":"MANUAL","targetItemSize":1000,"selectedLayout":"2|bottom|1|max|true|0|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":2,"isSlideshowFont":true,"externalInfoHeight":60,"externalInfoWidth":0.75},"container":{"width":220,"galleryWidth":242,"galleryHeight":0,"scrollBase":0,"height":null}}
    Archive
    No tags yet.
    Search By Tags
    • July 2020 (3)
    • June 2020 (9)
    • May 2020 (7)
    • April 2020 (6)
    • March 2020 (4)
    • February 2020 (6)
    • January 2020 (7)
    • December 2019 (8)
    • November 2019 (4)
    • October 2019 (10)
    • September 2019 (5)
    • August 2019 (5)
    • July 2019 (7)
    • June 2019 (5)
    • May 2019 (8)
    • April 2019 (6)
    • March 2019 (3)
    • February 2019 (7)
    • January 2019 (8)
    • December 2018 (7)
    • November 2018 (7)
    • October 2018 (10)
    • September 2018 (4)
    • August 2018 (8)
    • July 2018 (7)
    • June 2018 (6)
    • May 2018 (8)
    • April 2018 (6)
    • March 2018 (2)
    • February 2018 (4)
    • January 2018 (10)
    • December 2017 (9)
    • November 2017 (8)
    • October 2017 (7)
    • September 2017 (4)
    • August 2017 (9)
    • July 2017 (11)
    • June 2017 (8)
    • May 2017 (9)
    • April 2017 (9)
    • March 2017 (6)
    • February 2017 (6)
    • January 2017 (8)
    • December 2016 (12)
    • November 2016 (3)
    • October 2016 (4)
    • September 2016 (3)
    • August 2016 (1)
    • July 2016 (2)
    • June 2016 (4)

    © 2020 by OKANAGAN WOMAN MAGAZINE 

    • w-googleplus
    • Twitter Clean
    • w-facebook
    • FEATURES

    • OKW MAGAZINES

    • CONTACT US

    • ABOUT US

    • More