How Better Sleep Helps Your New Year’s Resolutions
Following the completion of his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, Dr. Dan Jensen trekked to the University of Nebraska, where he received his dental degree in 1996. After he received his degree, he worked with his dad (Dr. Bruce Jensen) for five years until he moved to Alaska, where he practiced dentistry for six years. Utah family life soon called his name again and Dr. Jensen moved back to Utah where he opened up his own practice in Kaysville, UT.
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It’s the end of the year, and that means you’re making New Year’s resolutions! Everyone has a long list of things they’d like to do, whether it’s eating healthy, getting to the gym more often, or finally making time for that hobby you really want to learn. If you have a lot of New Year’s resolutions, consider how sleeping better will help you meet those goals.
Not only will sleeping better be a great reward in and of itself, but sleeping consistently every night will benefit you in many other areas of your life, and help you keep your other New Year’s resolutions. You’ll wake up refreshed and have energy to go for that morning run, spend Saturday with the kids, or have the time to cook a healthy meal.
Sleep and Weight Loss
If weight loss is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, you might be planning to head to the gym a lot more often, and eat healthier. But that takes a lot of extra energy, and if you’re sleep deprived, you’ll find it especially challenging to get motivated for your morning workout routine. It’s easy to attempt to combat fatigue by reaching for a sugary drink, or an extra cup of coffee and a donut, but these habits certainly won’t help with your weight loss goals. Those who struggle to sleep at night are also more prone to snack in the evening, since sleeplessness can trigger hunger hormones, and often chose high-carb foods to satisfy late-night cravings.
If you’re sleeping through the night and enjoying deep sleep, you’ll have more energy, be able to avoid the sugar, have the motivation to get to the gym, and work on your health goals. You won’t struggle with so many late-night food cravings, and you’ll be able to meet your weight loss goals as well as enjoying more productive days.
Sleep and Productivity
Are you resolving to be more productive, get more done at work, or stay on top of your to-do list? Sleep boosts productivity, and will help you have enough energy to get through your day. A study from the University of Cambridge found that those who slept less than six hours per night were far less productive than those who slept between seven and nine hours in a night. Sleeping better increases energy, helps you stay focused, and makes it easier to concentrate on tasks, so you’ll get to the end of the day having accomplished your goals, and still have energy to spare
How to Keep Your Resolution to Sleep Better
Most resolutions are difficult to maintain, and by the end of January we’ve often fallen back into our old habits and routines. However, we believe that the new year can be a great time to reinvent yourself, and start the new year with purpose.
To keep your New Year’s resolution to sleep more, take the month of January to form new sleep habits. New routines can become habitual after 21 days, so if you alter your sleep schedule and stick with it for a month, by the end of January you’ll be well on your way to keeping at least one of your New Year’s resolutions!
If you want to sleep better, take time to wind down at the end of the night. Turn off the TV or phone an hour before sleeping, and pick up a book instead, or have a warm bath. Do you enjoy a cup of coffee after dinner? While nothing beats the taste of a dark roast brew, this shot of caffeine could be impacting your ability to sleep. Choose a decaf coffee, or switch your evening routine to a chamomile tea. Opt for an earlier bedtime, and try to go to sleep and wake up at consistent times each day.
Sound Sleep Medical
Are you resolving to sleep better this year? Visit us at Sound Sleep Medical for a sleep assessment, and find out how you could be sleeping better. From something as simple as adjusting your sleep schedule or buying a new pillow to treating sleep apnea or other sleep disturbances, we’ll work with you to discover why you’re not sleeping, and find the perfect solution so that you can enjoy a good night’s rest and all the benefits of being well rested.