FitSugar

7 Reasons You're Not Sleeping

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:15:42 PST

Difficulty sleeping can make the night long and the following day feel even longer. Ads for prescription sleeping pills run frequently on late-night TV, bu adopting healthy sleep habits can be as effective as medication, with no side effects. Here are reasons you may be suffering from insomnia.

Get a Good Night's Rest . . . Regardless of Who You Are Sleeping With

Heather Dale — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:32:09 PST

If improving your sleeping habits made the list of your 2012 resolutions, then let's get to it! There are simple things you should and shouldn't be doing to get some quality shut-eye, but what about the person who sleeps to your right (or left)? Do you ever look at your partner as a roadblock to your sleeping success? If your significant other is interfering with your sleepy time, here are some helpful tips to get you back on track . . . no separate rooms required!

Some like it hot, some like it cold: If your partner likes to keep the heat cranked throughout the night, while you prefer to keep it at a lower temperature, use scientific evidence to win this battle. Like it or not, room temperature has a significant impact on sleep. To get proper, quality sleep, the body needs to reach an internal temperature of 65 to 72 degrees F. If he (or she) is still set on sweating it out, load up the blankets on their side of the bed and have them wear socks and a sweatshirt to bed.

Keep reading for more tips.

How Bedroom Temperature Affects Your Zs

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:14:38 PST

If you live in an old, drafty house, Winter can mean bone-chilling, shivering evenings. Meanwhile, inhabitants of radiator-heated apartments experience almost stiflingly hot nights. Believe it or not, room temperature has a significant impact on your sleep. To get proper sleep, the body has an internal temperature level that it needs to reach; and, the ideal room temperature to help the body achieve this is between 65 to 72 degrees F. While those with central AC and heat can quickly program the temperature to their liking, here are some other ways to control your bedroom temperature and lead to better, deeper Winter slumber.

Keep reading for temperature tips.

Insomniac Mothers: A Sign of the Times?

Rebecca M Gruber — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:14:44 PST

It's one of the many ironies of motherhood - once baby is finally sleeping through the night, it's mom that can't seem to get any sleep. Regardless of how tired mama may be, by the time she finally puts her head down, thoughts of kids' schedules, signed permission slips, work to-do lists, household chores, and more begin flooding her mind. It's become such a common issue that The New York Times has dubbed the sleeping pill mommy's lil helper these days.

In a recent article, the newspaper delved into the insomniac mother epidemic, suggesting:

One of the great untruths of modern parenthood is that children - with their runny noses, lost teddies, nightmares real and faux - are largely to blame for mothers’ lack of sleep; that women are all like Christina Applegate in the sitcom “Up All Night,” cutely wan from their infant’s 2 a.m. feedings. But here is the reality: it is the mothers who keep themselves awake.

Do you find yourself turning to prescription sleep aids since becoming a mother?

5 Simple Tips For a Better Night's Sleep

Heather Dale — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:57:46 PDT

Sleeping soundly for at least eight hours a night is heavenly - in fact, getting a good night's rest is one of the best things you can do for yourself healthwise. Unfortunately with our hectic lifestyles, many factors can disrupt sleepy time. Since both quality and quantity are important, here are some simple tips to help you improve your zzz's once and for all!

Sweet Dreams: Drift Off to Sleep With This Yoga Sequence

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:27:46 PDT

If you're having trouble settling down before bed, give this gentle yoga sequence a whirl. These poses are designed to bring your senses inward and to stretch the areas that are most prone to tension, so your mind and body will feel relaxed and ready for sweet slumber. Brush your teeth, wash your face, slip into your jammies, and start stretching.

Source: Thinkstock

Mistakes Made in the Bedroom: Why You Wake Up Exhausted

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 03:16:20 PDT

Ugh, is it 6:30 a.m. already? If you constantly wake up in the morning exhausted and in a fog, here are eight reasons why.

Your room is like a cave. I love sleeping in utter darkness, but if blackout shades prevent daylight from streaming in and slowing waking you up, your internal clock won't know day from night. Exposure to sunshine in the morning will signal your brain that it's time for your body to waken. And when you do, it'll be gradual, so you'll wake up feeling rested.
You skipped yesterday's workout and actually can't remember the last time you sweat it out. Exercise burns calories, but it also burns up energy. If you have too much, you'll be too restless to settle. Stick to a regular exercise routine, working out at least three or four times a week in order to reap the benefits in the bedroom.
You stayed up late tweeting and looking at friends' Facebook photos. I know it's difficult to disconnect from the world, but when you check your email "real quick" it's easy to get sucked in and before you know it, an hour has gone by. Besides keeping you up late, the lights from your phone, computer, and TV stimulate you brain, so when you finally shut off the lights, it takes your mind a while to calm down enough to drift off to sleep. Make a promise to shut off all technology at least an hour before bedtime and read a book, take a bath, or do some stretches before bed instead.

Continue reading to find out other reasons why you're not waking up rested.

What Will and What Won't Help You Drift Into Dreamland

Heather Dale — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 03:07:14 PDT

Whenever I need my sleep the most - whether it's when I'm stressed or overtired - is when I have the most difficulty falling asleep. And we all know that not getting enough sleepy time is a recipe for disaster. It's frustrating to say the least, and I feel like I've tried every tip and trick to relax and calm my mind, from hot baths and reading, to taking melatonin and drinking herbal teas. Do you have any tried, tested, and true tricks that work for you? Now it's time to take a closer look at some remedies to see if they actually work!

Counting Sheep: As fun as it is to imagine furry sheep while lying in bed, this old wives' tale technique of helping you fall asleep is actually a myth. A study at Oxford University showed that people who counted sheep (compared to those who did nothing at all) actually took longer to fall asleep. What they did find though is that visualization of a relaxing scene helped insomniacs fall asleep 20 minutes sooner. Researchers believe that counting sheep is ineffective because it's too boring and participants stop counting. In comparison, imagining yourself on a tropical island is engaging enough to concentrate on until we tire ourselves out. A separate study showed that insomniacs usually focus on worries before bed, and things they did during the day. Which is why it's important to really wind down and focus on positive, calming thoughts.

Keep reading about other remedies.

10 Consequences of Not Getting Enough Sleep

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:39:00 PDT

We only spend a third of our life actually sleeping, but the art of catching z's can rule the majority of our lives. Between figuring out our circadian clock, juggling work and home, and battling insomnia-inducing factors, we can't get enough of perfecting our sleep routine.

And we have good reason. Not getting enough sleep can lead to a multitude of not-so-great things. Why is sleep so important? Here are 10 consequences of not getting enough sleep.

You'll eat more. 300 calories more, to be precise. A recent study found that sleep-deprived subjects, when allowed to eat whatever they wanted, ate more than when they had a full-night's sleep, even though they stuck to their normal eating schedule.
You may not live as long. Researchers may have found the secret to long life - a study found that women who slept fewer than five hours a night were less likely to live as long as those who got more.
You'll weigh more. Logically, if you are regularly consuming more calories every day it stands to reason you may weigh more, but the weight gain is not only caused by what you consume. Not enough sleep also causes stress on the body, which triggers it to slow metabolism and store fat.

Read on for seven more consequences of not getting enough shut eye.

Tips For Troubled Sleepers

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:00:12 PDT

It's late. You have an early morning meeting and all you want to do is drift off to sweet slumberland. Too bad you're doing more tossing and turning than snoozing and snoring. Here are some tips you can try to help you fall asleep faster.

Make your bedroom like a cave. Cover the windows and turn off all the lights (even night-lights). The darkness signals your body to wind down and sleep. If you can't shut out the light completely, wear an eye mask.
Don't count sheep! Instead, visualize a relaxing scene like a sun-dappled beach or a serene meadow covered with wildflowers.
Turn on the yawns with yoga. Whether you do some relaxing stretches on the floor or in your bed, it only takes a few minutes of Child's Pose or Legs Up the Wall to induce drowsiness.

For other helpful tips