Let’s talk about sleep! (Did you know today, March 17, 2023, is world sleep day?!)
- Sleep is essential to your physical and mental health!
- Good sleep requires 1) Deep sleep (this is restorative) 2) Duration (length of sleep) 3) Continuity (Sleep without interruption…I’m thinking about all of those mommas of newborns and sick children right now!)
- Just getting 1 night of poor sleep effects your attention span, memory recalls and learning ability. (Consider work and school performance)
- Did you know 75% of adolescents in the US are sleeping less than their needed 8-10 hours a day?
- Sleep deprivation can lead to greater risk taking behaviors.
- 46% of people who struggle with sleep disturbances report work related issues.
- Sleep loss impacts appetite regulation, typically increasing food intake.
So what are some easy steps to improve sleep quality?
- Stay hydrated during the day and don’t consume large amounts of liquids close to bedtime.
- Go to bed at the same time overnight. If you find you can’t fall asleep easily at night try waking earlier in the morning.
- Get up at the same time every day.
- Keep the same schedule- even on the weekends. If your schedule experiences a change, get back on schedule as fast as possible. Many of us know that getting off for 1-2 days can throw off your schedule for much longer.
- Stay away from screens in the hour before bed.
- Turn off your brain. A) if you are a reader it can be hard to put the book down. Don’t read an addictive book right before bed. (Same goes for binging a show) B) If your to-do list runs through your head create a routine in which you purge all your to-do’s and thoughts ON PAPER a hour or two before your bedtime. The process of purging can keep your brain from cycling back through the same things over and over. It also helps you feel more organized.
- Incorporate physical exercise into your routine. One of the greatest predictors of improved sleep is physical activity.
For more information on this topic visit https://worldsleepday.org
Considering Tele-therapy?
Christian Mom Counseling provides professional counseling via virtual teletherapy for women located in the state of North Carolina. We utilize real-time video to have sessions with women all over the state of NC. There are multiple reasons why and here are a few:
- As a mom of three, I understand the difficulty of scheduling and making time for myself. I’ve found that many other mothers who are in the early childhood stage of motherhood find scheduling online sessions easier and more feasible. Save time on travel and sitters and schedule online.
- You can attend your session even if you are sick without the risk of exposing anyone else!
- It’s a good option if you live in a remote area that makes finding a counselor close to you difficult.
- My primary specialty is faith-based Christian Counseling. That being said, many of my clients have commented on their inability to find counselors who claim to be Christian and include faith as a major part of the client’s healing and recovery.
- Virtual Counseling is here to stay and studies have shown that in many cases tele-therapy can be equally as effective. You will always hear me recommend in person interpersonal connections (family, friends, church, small groups, and other forms of deep relationships with others) but online counseling can provide many of the same advantages of in-person counseling.
If you’ve been wondering if tele-therapy would be a good fit I’d love to hear from you! Click the button below to form to schedule a free phone consultation:
