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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.

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

Take a hot bath. The warm water is oh-so soothing and will help clear your mind and relax your muscles.
Finish eating two hours before you lie down. If your stomach is full or you're digesting a big meal, it's hard to fall asleep. Not to mention, lying down with a full belly can also lead to heartburn, which will definitely keep you up.
Listen to some relaxing music or a guided meditation. Gentle melodies of Enya or a monotonous voice leading you to sleepytown always works for me.
Write in a journal. If you're stressed, worried, or anxious about something, whether it's good or bad, thinking about it will only prevent your mind from quieting down enough to fall asleep. It helps to get your thoughts down on paper so you can forget about them long enough to get your Zs.

If you have any other surefire tips to help you fall asleep fast, please share them below.

How to Know You Need More Sleep

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:30:10 PST

It's common not to get enough sleep every so often, but if you're constantly depriving yourself of shut-eye, your body will soon let you know. According to Prevention magazine, here are five signs that you need more sleep.

Simple decisions stump you.
You're still hungry after eating all day.
You keep coming down with colds.
Weird things make you cry.
You've become a klutz.

If this sounds familiar, I have some suggestions on how to get the zzz's you need so

Make your bedroom a sanctuary. It should be dark, a comfortable temperature, and your bed should be covered in soft and cozy linens. Remove all technology such as the TV, computer, and your cell phone, and replace them with candles and calming music.
Take a hot bath before bed, or sip a warm cup of tea or milk. Both are soothing and help you wind down.
Other foods are sleep inducers such as bananas, honey, and oatmeal.
Limit the amount of caffeine you're getting, especially in the late afternoon/evening.
Exercise daily. Using up energy will help you feel more sleepy at night. Just be sure to complete your workout at least three hours before bedtime to give your body temperature and heart rate a chance to return to normal.
Try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule each day of the week, even on weekends. Getting up and going to bed at the same time everyday will help your body fall into a natural rhythm, so it knows when to sleep, and when to be awake.
If work or family issues are making you think and worry in bed instead of snoozing, figure out how to manage them. Talk to your boss, spouse, a friend, or therapist.

Cures For Troubled Sleep

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:16:52 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, but studies show that adopting healthy sleep hygiene is as effective as medication with no side effects. Here are some "home remedies" for your insomnia.

Trouble Waking Up? Try Sleeptracker Pro

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:00:00 PDT

Some of you may have a difficult time falling or staying asleep, but others are the opposite. You hit snoozeland as soon as your head hits the pillow and you could end up sleeping until lunch. If that's the case, you probably have a really tough time waking up, and this little device called the Sleeptracker Pro ($179) may interest you. Just as its name states, it tracks the series of sleep cycles your body experiences throughout the night. Most people will go through four to five full rounds of these 90 to 110 minute cycles, which are comprised of five stages. In Stages 1 and 2, you're lightly sleeping, and Stages 3 and 4, known as Delta Sleep, are when you're in the heaviest sleep. This is when your body has the chance to rebuild itself. Stage 5 is known as REM sleep is when we dream.

As your body undergoes these cycles, the Sleeptracker Pro's sensors can figure out what points during the night you are "almost awake." You set the alarm for a certain window of time, say 6:15 to 6:30 a.m., and the watch gently wakes you at the most optimal moment when you're most alert. This device may be great if you tend to be coma-like each morning. The only downside is that wearing a bulky wrist watch like this may be annoying and it'll keep you up all night. If you're a deep sleeper though, you probably won't even notice it. What do you think of the Sleeptacker Pro? Is this a helpful gadget or a waste of money?

Apparently Dr. Phil is a huge fan. To hear what he had to say

Having Trouble Sleeping? Try Feng Shui

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:30:00 PST

Do you have a hard time falling or staying asleep? Do you wake up in the morning feeling uneasy or irritated? It may have to do with the Feng Shui in your bedroom. Feng Shui, which literally means "wind and water," is the ancient Chinese art of placement. The goal is to enhance the flow of "chi" (energy) and to create a harmonious environment that supports health and happiness.

Here are some basic Feng Shui tips to hep you get a better night's sleep:

Shut out the outside world by removing the TV, computer, and exercise equipment. The bedroom is your place of serenity, where you need to get away from the stresses of life, so if your desk or office must be in the bedroom, separate the space with a curtain or folding screen.
Use calm and friendly earth tones such as copper, cream, tan and chocolate to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Light blue, mint green and lavender will give a tranquil feeling and invite healing energy. Vibrant colors such as red and bright orange stimulate the mind, so this may not be the best color for your bedroom.
Your bed should be in the commanding position. This means it should be far away from the door, but you should still be able to see the entrance. This will give you a sense of safety and protection. You also don't want the foot of your bed to be pointing towards the door. In traditional Chinese culture, this is called the "Death Position," and thought to drain life force energy since the deceased were carried out feet first.
There should be room on either side of the bed so it is approachable from both sides and energy can flow around you freely.

Want to hear more about your bed? Then

Try not to put your bed under a slanted ceiling, heavy beam or ceiling fan. This position is thought to contain depressing energy that literally pushes down on you while you sleep. If you can't avoid this position, hang tapestries or other fabric above the bed.
Also avoid positioning your bed directly under a window. A solid wall symbolically can support and protect you, while glass allows energy to flow in and out of the window, which may cause restless sleep. Solid headboards are great since they'll provide even more protection and support while you sleep. Footboards on the other hand block forward progress in life and are only recommended if your bed has to point towards the door.
Reduce clutter in your bedroom, under your bed, in your closet, and on your night stand. Clutter represents unfinished business, which can disturb your sleep.
Cover windows with curtains so that you can have a cocoon-like feeling at night, and they'll keep the sunlight out in the morning. Being exposed to sunlight first thing in the morning is said to influence your serotonin levels and affect you for the rest of the day. Once you're ready to wake up, you can easily pull the curtains open and flood your room with natural light.
Make sure not to hang a mirror next to or opposite the bed as this is thought to bounce too much energy around the room and prevent restful sleep.
Hang up art that exudes happiness and calm energy.

You obviously don't have to do all these things, but as long as you can walk into your bedroom and feel relaxed and comforted, then you're on your way to a good night's sleep. Source

Grey's Anatomy Rundown, "All You Need Is Love"

Becky Kirsch — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:27:29 PST

It's Valentine's Day in Seattle, which means the doctors are scrambling to get their romantic plans together on this week's episode of Grey's Anatomy. Callie plans a special surprise for skeptical Arizona, while Mark tries to get out of babysitting duty so he can take Julia out on a date. Derek and Meredith, on the other hand, just need to find somewhere to go for a little, uh, "alone time."

On the other end of the spectrum, Lexie is having a "woe is me" moment as she pines for Mark, and Jackson and Karev are also left dateless. No one's in hotter water than Owen is, though: he and Cristina contemplate some big questions about the future of their relationship, and Teddy has some choice words for him when Owen tries to rekindle their friendship. Ready to break it all down? Just

Everything is hunky dory in Mere/Der land now that they've got Zola back, except for one problem: they can't have sex with Zola in their bed. This shouldn't be an issue for a couple living in a huge house, but they're thwarted at every turn, often by Lexie, who seems to be staying up into the wee hours watching surgical procedures on TV. Lucky for them, they wrangle Lexie into babysitting for Valentine's Day so they can finally get it on without complication.
As for Little Grey, when she's not whining about her sad, empty life, she's blatantly pining for Mark. When Mark gets candid about his V-Day plans with Julia, Lexie tries to save face and says she has a hot date. To make matters worse, Mark and Jackson's new BFFship just puts her in an even more awkward position, both in and out of the hospital. After a sweet moment with Mark over a box of chocolates, she finally gets the courage to tell him how she feels, but Jackson's at the apartment making a romantic steak dinner for Mark in exchange for some study help. I firmly believe that these two are going to end up together, but the Grey's writers sure are making us sweat it out.
There isn't much drama for Callie and Arizona this week, other than Callie's very sweet romantic surprise. When she tells Arizona to pack warm clothes, Arizona assumes a camping trip is in store and starts panicking. It's not until she sees the interior of Derek's trailer - which Callie has borrowed for the night - that she realizes that they won't be sleeping under the stars. On a side note: why haven't Meredith and Derek thought of using the trailer for their own conveniences?
Owen and Cristina are still on shaky ground after their epic fight at Zola's birthday party, and the tension is palpable. I cringed for Cristina when Owen saves her from getting run down by the runaway van but doesn't so much as give her a hug after he pushes her out of harm's way. It seems to be a breaking point for the couple, and shortly afterwards, Owen tells a shaken Cristina he's moving out.
As if his relationship troubles aren't enough, Owen also gets an earful from Teddy. He turns to his old friend for comfort, asking Teddy if they can make amends over drinks, but Teddy is nowhere near ready to be chums again. In fact, she tells Owen that she hates him and will never forgive him for putting the hospital ahead of her needs when Henry passed away. She drives the point home by telling Owen not to address her unless it's work-related. Ouch - and for a second there, I thought maybe these two could rekindle their old flame with Cristina slowly fading out of the picture for Owen. Owen and Cristina do share a moment at the end of the episode, but do you think their relationship can ever bounce back?

Did you fall in love with this loved-up episode? Do you think it's only a matter of time before Mark breaks up with his new lady for Lexie? Let's discuss in the comments! Photo copyright 2012 ABC, Inc.

4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Prevention — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:05:16 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips
By the editors of Prevention

Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today.

Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing
Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive - it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.

Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.

Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

5 Reasons You're Late - and How to Avoid Them

SavvySugar — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:16:09 PST

Punctuality is a crucial part of professionalism and making positive first impressions. While we've heard some ridiculous excuses for being late, tardiness is usually caused by something more mundane. If you regularly find yourself racing the clock, take a step back and assess what's causing you to run behind.

Alarm problems. Either it didn't go off, you set it for the wrong time, or you slept right through it - whatever the case, turn around your alarm troubles by spending some extra time planning your sleep schedule. Make sure you're getting seven to eight hours of shut-eye each night and guarantee a smooth morning by setting two or three alarms. Struggle to get out of bed in the morning? Place your alarm on the other side of the room so that you're forced to get up to turn it off.
Getting ready gets chaotic. Where's your purse? Your keys? Did you leave that shirt at the dry cleaner? These stressful moments are easily avoidable. Prep for your morning the night before and make a list of everything you need to grab before heading out the door. And be honest with yourself - if it takes you 15 minutes to do your hair, don't allot five.

Keep reading for more tips on timeliness.

5 Reasons You Need More Sleep

Shape — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:14:00 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Whether you admit you need help nodding off or are still in denial about the major suitcases under your eyes, chances are you could use an intervention: a full two-thirds of Americans say they have trouble getting enough shut-eye at least once a week. That’s pretty harrowing, considering that sleep is absolutely essential for health and normal functioning. If you need a reason to hit the sack early read on. You’ll be surprised how much skipped sleep impacts your well-being.

You'll Live Longer
Chronic insomniacs are more likely to suffer a heart attack than those who sleep well, according to new research in the journal Circulation. Other studies have linked lack of sleep to a higher risk of dying from a stroke and developing breast cancer.

See even more benefits of sleep after the break!