The Holy Grail of Sleep (and How to Attain It)

The self-help section of the bookstore has lots of advice about improving your life and status. From the venerable How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936) to the contemporary How to Talk to Someone and Not Die (2020), it seems everywhere you turn there is life-changing advice being offered.

Sleep is the cornerstone of our overall good health. It is essential to learn to live according to your biological clock and to do everything to maintain a balanced relationship between our time of waking and sleeping. Sleep really works, in terms of health, with the same impact as nutrition and physical activity.

When it comes to getting a good night's sleep, comfort is key. Just like the mattress, the quality of bedding can have a significant impact on the quality of your sleep. This is why opting for high-end bed linen is recommended. So make sure you provide a good pillow, a nice comforter, a plush mattress pad, soft sheets, and possibly a blanket to make a cozy bed.

Here are some more simple tips to improve your daily life.

Diet

The US Department of Health and Human Services offers tips and calculators to systematically work healthy eating into your daily life. The general advice, and good advice not related to any specific diet plan, is as follows:

• Do not skip breakfast.
• Eat regular meals, with plenty of fruits and vegetables and other sources of fiber.
• Get in the habit of reading food labels.
• Don’t give up your favorite foods, but also do not stock junk foods at home.
• Use a smaller plate - really. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it is satisfied, so eating smaller portions slowly is good advice. Eating slowly will give your brain time to catch up with your belly and allow you to be satisfied with smaller portions.

Exercise

Before significantly changing your daily physical routine, it is wise to get the green light from your physician. That being said, the benefits of regular physical activity of any type have been well documented. The most important step is the first one, not the last; you just need to do something, not everything.

Mental engagement

The mind/body connection is well established; a good attitude can often do more for your ills than popping pills. Recent studies confirm the connection and shed new light on the mental benefits of exercise and engagement, with brain capacity measurably benefiting from just two one-hour dance or aerobic classes per week.

Return to nature

Nature can have a powerful effect on the human mental state and there are many ways to tap into it. The Covid pandemic has created the opportunity for many to reconnect with nature, whether by joining the golf boom, camping, or stargazing. A study reported by Harvard Health compared the effects of walking in a rural, natural setting versus an urban setting and found greater mental benefits for those walking in nature.

Rest, relaxation, and sleep

Before you do engage in any of the improvement activities suggested, however, we at Downlite have one essential, basic, and vitally important tip that will make every one of the self-improvement regimes more effective and lasting - get a good night’s sleep every night as you embark on your journey of self-improvement.

The benefits of a good night’s sleep are well documented. They include:

• Reduced sickness.
• Improved weight control.
• Lowered risk of diabetes and heart disease.
• Make better decisions and avoid injuries, such as the many car accidents caused by drowsy drivers.
• Reduced stress and an improved disposition.

We are dedicated to providing the best night’s sleep, using the best products, at prices that people appreciate. From the mattress pad below to the decorative pillows on top, we provide hotel quality bedding in a variety of materials, shapes, and sizes, from allergy-friendly bedding, cooling bedding, and hypoallergenic comforters, to California King size bedding.

If you would like any help or professional advice before ordering your bedding, you may contact our customer service representatives by email, and they will assist you in your decisions. 

Photo Credit: @katstyle42