How To Avoid Poor Sleep
HOW TO AVOID POOR SLEEP
7 / AUGUST / 2024
SHEREE'S HEALTH DIARIES
When clients come to me wanting to heal their gut health, balance their hormones, shift stubborn weight, they are always focused on food, and exercise. And I don’t blame them, but unless you get your sleep right, you really aren’t going to get anywhere with the other two.
Sleep literally affects every single physiological function in your body. By that I mean get enough sleep, every single thing your body does from how strong you are to how productive and happy you can be is enhanced. Skimp on sleep or deprive your body of sleep (even just one night), will negatively affect every single function in your body.
Which is why a nighttime routine is so important. Good news is, I’ve made things super simple for you, by sharing 5 ways you can support yourself sleeping better below!
MY TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP
- Power Down - at least 2 hours before bed
Create your own nighttime routine by dimming the lights and closing down your tech buddies – smartphones, laptops, and TVs should hit that do not disturb mode at least 2 hours before bedtime, and ideally be kept out of the bedroom. Bright light is like a wakeup call to your brain + body, so it’s key to start sending the opposite message - that we are powering down more than just our devices.
The blue light from our devices only makes things worse, it tells the brain there is a party going on, so if you really can’t do the two hours make sure the lights are dim to increase your melatonin production and grab yourself some blue light blocking glasses. - Skip The Nightcap - the alcohol really doesn’t help you sleep
That glass of wine or two to unwind might seem like a simple way to shuteye, but once that buzz wears off, you’re prone to less restful sleep and more frequent awakenings.
Instead, replace the nightcap with some magnesium, a sleepy girl mocktail or even some of my favourite soul CBD sleepi gummies! (CODE: SHEREE) - Make the Bedroom for Rest + Play Only - create a sacred space
Your brain is triggered unconsciously by your environment and the things it does consistently. If your brain is constantly associating your bed with work, the kids sleeping in it, or full of device time, it isn’t going to feel rested when it enters the room.
Whilst I am not here to judge, the science really does support keeping the bedroom for sleep + sex - both of which require you to unwind and relax! So think about how to make your bedroom more of a relaxing, restful and maybe somewhat raunchy space. - Keep It Cool & Quiet - temperate control is key
Although we may think we wanna be all snuggly and warm (believe me I still struggle with this). Our body craves a specific temperature for optimal sleep, and it is more on the cool side.
Ideally our room is between 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit or 15-19 degrees Celsius, to optimise your sleep environment. Also, eliminating any disruptive sounds is key, so think about incorporating a sound machine that plays soothing white, brown, or pink noises. I personally love playing binaural deep sleep beats on a sleep timer to fall asleep to. - Declutter the Mind Before Bed - avoid the wired yet tired feeling
Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D., an expert in psychiatry from the Behavioral Sleep Medicine program at the University of Pennsylvania suggests if you often find your thoughts racing when you're in bed, it may be because you haven't taken the time to process your day. This can keep your cortisol levels high, reducing your melatonin production causing you to struggle to fall asleep.
To quote Grandner, "a more effective approach would be to dedicate some time in the evening to reflect on your day, create tomorrow's to-do lists, and clear your mental clutter. Then, climb into bed." I personally love journaling on gratitudes and planning out my next day.
Establishing a nighttime routine or making these changes can feel tough, but they are 100000000000% worth it when you think of the impact even one good night’s sleep can have on your health. So start small and slowly implement these in the months to come!
SHEREE BEAUMONT
Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Trainer & Wellness Coach I empower women like you to transform their lives, understand their bodies and feel their best from the inside out!
POPULAR
The Mineral You Need To Optimise Your Sleep
THE MINERAL YOU NEED TO OPTIMISE YOUR SLEEP
03 / APRIL / 2024
SHEREE'S HEALTH DIARIES
Studies have shown low levels of serum magnesium (magnesium in your blood) are associated with low quality sleep and insomnia
I’ve been saying this for years, and this article expands on the role magnesium plays in regulating our circadian rhythm.
If you’re struggling with your sleep, chances are your circadian rhythm is out of alignment and your cortisol and melatonin are out of sync. There’s a lot we can do to reset this, like sunshine exposure, adjusting caffeine timing, balancing blood sugar levels, blue light blocking glasses, dimming the lights at night etc…
But these things take time, it doesn't take just a week to throw your circadian rhythm off, so it can be a few weeks before things start to settle and regulate. Which we both know, when it comes to sleep, lying awake at night is not fun, you just want to sleep now. This is where magnesium comes in.
HOW MAGNESIUM SUPPORTS YOUR SLEEP
All in all, magnesium (especially when combined with B6), can be really supportive in supporting falling asleep, regular sleep patterns and calming the nervous system.
Here’s why this is something you need to know...
The more stressed you are, the more magnesium you use, and with your day to day stress you're burning through a lot more magnesium than you can get with food
Which is a contributing factor to not getting good quality sleep. If you’re stressed, you start to throw out your cortisol levels, reducing your melatonin production in the evening and this is what can often result in that ‘wired but tired’ feeling!
So you struggle to fall asleep, wind up waking up tired, feeling unrested and dragging your feet to get through the day, relying on caffeine for energy (which also depletes your magnesium). Not the best cocktail for us to feel optimal right?!
Magnesium helps you calm your nervous system, bringing down the cortisol and helps you shift into your parasympathetic state which then supports you in falling asleep.
It also helps prevent and soothe cramps, reduce sugar cravings and speed up recovery from training. All of which are even more beneficial at night time, am I right? Waking up to a calf cramp at 3am is excruciating. Not to mention when you sleep you are repairing and the magnesium helps optimise that.
Magnesium is responsible for over 300 different functions in the body, so getting enough daily will make a huge difference to not only your sleep, but energy as well.
MY DOSAGE RECOMMENDATION
Weekly wellness prescription: add ~300mg of magnesium (bis)glycinate to your evening routine. If you want a great quality brand, just DM me here and I can share with you the ones I love that are available in your country and watch your sleep improve tenfold!
With love,
Sheree xo
SHEREE BEAUMONT
Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Trainer & Wellness Coach I empower women like you to transform their lives, understand their bodies and feel their best from the inside out!