During this time of year a lot of us get into a rut- our bodies are missing the warmth of the sun, our hard-earned cash is stretching thin and our diets have fallen short due to approaching holidays. It's hard to know how to stop the circle of stress and frustration!
Here at the Backrub we believe relaxation is one way to less stress and a better well-being. So what is the key to ultimate relaxation? A good old-fashioned sleep.
Sleep deprivation is the cause of many physical and mental declines, from basic break down of immunity to effecting our moods. It can lead to a poorer diet, more sick days from work and decreasing mental alertness.
Don't stress! The winter time is a perfect time to catch up on sleep - the nights are longer giving us a better excuse to go to bed earlier and the cold outside won't keep us far from our warm homes. Over winter we'll be getting deep into the science of sleep and sharing tips and tricks for a natural night of slumber. We've all heard the advice of turning off your tv, putting down the phone, getting off the computer before bed but we want to go deeper than that.
What food helps to a better snooze? What stretches can we do to ward off insomnia? How do we let our minds "let go" before hitting the sack? We'll explore these and more, ensuring a winter hibernation fit for a bear.
Had a bad sleep last night? Here are a few simple but effective points on getting through the day:
Caffeine: taken in moderation, it has been proven to help the brain get a kickstart after a bad night. Listen to your body and try to watch when the caffeine starts kicking in - that's when you can slow down the intake.
Keep Hydrated: You are naturally balancing your body's vitamins, nutrients and minerals when you drink water, keeping you functioning and replenishing what you've used up. By drinking water through the day and especially before bed, your hormones, energy levels and muscles and joints become balanced.
Keep Moving! You'll probably want to lay your head on the desk and take a snooze but getting up and moving around at regular intervals will help you pick up a little more energy.
Grab Some Sun: Making sure you get some sunlight will set your body clock back to where it should be and curb afternoon drowsiness. Bonus - the fresh air will give you a boost to get through the day.
How do you relax before bedtime? Let us know! Comment below or follow us on Facebook for more tips and tricks on relaxing.
