The importance of a great nights sleep.

These days with our busy schedules and fast paced life styles, it is inevitable that our sleep patterns are altered.  Most people are in a state of perpetual exhaustion and they probably don’t even know it. 

Proper sleep, the 8 hour per night kind, is vital to your health and mental well being.   

You don’t have to convince most people that waking up with dark circles and under-eye baggage is directly related to the amount of rest we take for ourselves.

Studies have proven that sleep-deprived skin ages faster.

During deep sleep, cell and tissue repair is underway, the body produces more proteins, which aids in the building of cells; and human growth hormone is in overdrive, which stimulates collagen production.

An estimated 60-75 percent of growth hormones are released during sleep. Growth hormones are involved with collagen production.  Sleep also provides a natural moisturizer. People perspire more at night.  Which means sleep can be viewed as nature’s anti-inflammatory.

Dark circles under the eyes are often a hydration issue. Therefore it is important to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water during the day. If you’re dehydrated, there’s less fluid to obscure the blue blood vessels under the eyes.

Another tip, sleeping on your back helps reduce morning facial creases.

Like the food you eat and the exercise you get, it is vital to work on your sleep.  How much and the quality.

Most people don’t know how to relax.  This has been an ongoing issue with me for years.  Often people fill their minds with images and sound, by watching too much television or taking too much computer time, especially before bed.  It feels relaxing, but in fact stimulates your mind and over works your senses.  Before bed, it important to slow down. 

What I have started to do before bed is quietly sit and do a bit of journaling, no more than 15 or 20 minutes. It calms my mind and relaxes my body. Then I am ready for bed.  This has improved the way I sleep.  It helps me disconnect from my busy day and a mind full of details.

It does take a conscious effort to improve the way you sleep.   Here is a link that you may find helpful. 

http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips

Take the steps you need to improve your sleep and help regenerated the way you look and feel.