Guest Post: How Better Sleep Can Help Your Energy And Stress Levels

These days, it seems like there are countless things to worry about. The tough economy has millions of Americans wondering if they will be able to pay their bills this month, or if they will ever be able to find a job. A constantly dueling Congress offers little comfort. It is hard to let a day pass by without news of a terrible weather calamity. And of course, our own personal problems with work and family also cause us to worry and stress. But there will always be causes of stress, the key is in learning to deal with them. Everyone deals with stress in different ways. Some people work out to relieve their anxiety, other people meditate in silence, and plenty more do less productive things like eating or shopping. One great, easy, and entirely free way to reduce your stress levels is also one of the simplest: get more sleep. Sleeping more can held both your energy and stress levels, making you more productive and generally just happier.

Getting enough sleep fuels your brain and your body alike. So it is important to identify certain habits and behaviors in your life that may be to the detriment of your sleeping. Are you drinking a lot of coffee or soda? Caffeine and sugar both produce “temporary highs” that usually end with a crash. If you cut down how much caffeine and sugar you consume, your head will feel clearer, you will get less drowsy during the day, and sleep better at night. Another bad habit that also hurts your ability to sleep is smoking cigarettes. If you are a smoker, you almost certainly already know that you should quit. So add better sleep as a reason to finally make that move.

When you do not get adequate sleep, your body and brain both slow down. You will feel drowsy and groggy during the day, and you might find this hurts your ability to do your work well or articulate yourself. This can be frustrating and lead you to irrational thinking. The average person needs seven to eight hours of sleep every night, so try to engage in a lifestyle that is more likely to help you achieve that goal.

Below are some tips to improve your sleeping. Implement these and your energy and stress levels will also see positive results.

Exercise more

Getting more exercise will tire your body and lead you to get a better night's sleep. You do not even need to go to the gym to achieve these results. Try parking further away from the entrance at your office building, or opting to take the stairs whenever plausible. If you sit at a desk all day, get up and walk around the office at least once an hour. If you can get a treadmill and standing desk in your office, that is an even better option.

Get rid of the bedroom television

Falling asleep to the television is very common in this country, but it is a bad habit. Get the television out of the bedroom. Read a book to fall asleep to instead. You’ll feel better in the morning.

Take a Power Nap

If you find yourself drowsy around 3 in the afternoon, you are experiencing the “afternoon slump.” Instead of having a cup of coffee, take a twenty to thirty minute nap. The power nap is a healthier alternative to artificial caffeine.

About the Author: Brandon Travis likes to spend his free time swimming and training for his next triathlon in the spring. When he's not working out he likes to review sites like iRollOver.


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