New Year, New You: Sleep Edition!

A new year brings with it a fresh start and clean slate… this is also a time where we all make resolutions that we try to keep going as long as we can. But in most cases, we struggle to make it past January! If you ever stop to evaluate why this is, you’ll notice a major reason for this is that we are solely focused on that one resolution and end up making terrible decisions on things that can actually help us… like sleep!

Did you know sleep could actually help you lose weight? Did you know that you would actually be more productive at work if you got enough sleep? Did you know sleep could reduce stress and improve your memory? Did you know sleep can help keep your body and heart healthy, making it the single most important factor in your longevity?

Sleep is the source from which we replenish, not a state in which we seek to live. Like water, food, and shelter, it’s an essential part of our human experience and existence. It is a third of our lives that – when best invested – has tremendous impacts on our mental and physical health, productivity, relationships and beyond. Its effects ripple throughout the many layers of our entire lives, which are deeply enriched by the surface on which we choose to sleep.

Essentia understands this and has created the world’s healthiest and most durable memory foam mattresses that awaken you to how a truly restful night’s sleep can empower you to make the most of your days.  As the world’s only natural memory foam company, Essentia mattresses are free of harmful toxins, allergens and off-gases found in synthetic mattresses – so that you can reap the full health benefits of sleep, without harming yourself or the environment. Essentia was founded on this mission of ensuring you achieve your best sleep possible, experiencing a good night… for a better day.

One of the biggest hurdles of ensuring you get the sleep needed to keep your mind and body sharp is getting the proper amount of sleep.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the sweet spot for adults is between 7 to 9 hours each night. We know many people struggle to get these hours in so we are sharing some tips to help you prioritize sleep in the new year. The Mayo Clinic also outlines 7 basic tips to sleep, and there are a few that you will find all sleep advocates, like Arianna Huffington, have in common. Arianna Huffington has become one of the most vocal proponents for sleep and how it can help you achieve your goals or as she says “sleep your way to the top”!

Here are the major keys to getting your best sleep this year:

KEEP IT COOL

Studies show that sleeping in a cool environment can help you get to sleep and sleep well. A great tip apart from dropping the thermostat is to sleep on a mattress that naturally keeps you cool, like Essentia mattresses, which depending on the model, have been tested to sleep on average 7 degrees cooler than your body temperature over an eight hour time period.

DROP THE DEVICES IN THE BEDROOM

As hard as it may be, put the cell phone, laptop, and tablet in another room. The light from these devices can obstruct the body’s production of melatonin, which you need to help you sleep. This is probably going to be the hardest to accomplish, but with some determination and making it a part of your nightly routine you can get it done.

MAKE A NIGHTTIME ROUTINE

Create a ritual every night: leave all devices in another room, drink some hot tea, take a warm shower, read a bit (from an actual book) and snuggle into bed. Creating a new habit can take longer than you thought, but you will reap the rewards of getting amazing sleep that can help you create more new, healthy habits along the way. Pick a wind-down routine that best fits your lifestyle and you will succeed.

KEEP A SLEEP SCHEDULE

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day! Being consistent means you can eventually ditch the alarm clock as your body naturally knows when it’s time to wake up. This also means an alarm at night to remind you to begin your nighttime routine will be just as important as your morning alarm. Each person has a different sweet spot of how many hours of sleep a night you need between 7 and 9. Try different bedtimes and wake up times, takes notes of how you feel on 7 hours of sleep vs 8 hours of sleep vs 9 hours of sleep. You’ll notice slight differences and be able to tell which day you were operating at your best.