Importance of Sleep

Imagine if there was one area of your life that could influence almost every part of your personal health. Sleep improvement can significantly affect your mood, memory, immune system, weight, aging, sexual health, and heart disease.

Harvard University’s Division of Sleep Medicine found that 15-20 percent of people with insomnia will develop major depression, which can also contribute to anxiety. Those with insomnia are 20 times more likely to develop panic disorder.

To break this cycle, it’s essential to prioritize restful sleep. Sleep doesn’t begin when you lay down; it starts well before you tuck yourself in.

Here are some things to avoid: Drinking alcohol disrupts your circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall and stay asleep. The blue light from your devices increases cortisol, a stress hormone that decreases melatonin, which is crucial for sleep. Additionally, consuming caffeine late in the day can severely impact your ability to fall asleep since it takes your body about eight hours to eliminate caffeine.

Now, here are some proactive steps you can take: Showering before bed can lower cortisol levels and boost melatonin production. Spending more time in sunlight during the day can make you feel sleepier at night. Eating foods rich in melatonin, like eggs, nuts, and fish, can also support better sleep.

Improving your sleep can be challenging because we are all unique and need a personalized approach. We can take this general information and help tailor it to any client's specific and individualized needs.

You are not alone. Storm & Harmony is here to help.