Sleep Resolutions
It should be no mystery that the best way to start off the day right is to have a great night’s sleep. If proper sleep or a proper mattress isn’t on your list for a better year, we suggest adding it! And here are some reasons why: improved memory, stronger immune...
read more
REM Sleep
Last month we looked at the importance and interesting qualities of Stages 3 and 4 of sleep. Now we’ll be talking about the most exciting part of the sleep cycle, rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep. Sleep is often described as either REM or NREM (non-REM) sleep; yet,...
read more
Animals and Sleep
Humans aren’t the only ones who need sleep. “Every animal, without exception, exhibits at least a primitive form of sleep” (Finkel, 56). Dolphins, for example, sleep using only half their brain at a time. By having one hemisphere of their brain active while the other...
read more
Stages Three and Four of Sleep
We hope you found last month’s look into stages one and two of sleep to be insightful and enjoyable. If so, then we hope you’ll join us as we look at the deep sleep stages. Unlike the first two stages that are for shifting through the day’s events (often in the form...
read more
The Price of Falling Back
While the upcoming end of Daylight-Saving Time may feel like a boon, it actually plays havoc on your sleep. The ‘Falling Back’ to sleep part can feel great that first day, but as with any change in a sleep routine, the side effects can last from one to several weeks....
read more
Combating Insomnia
Insomnia is no fun. To help combat insomnia, which is a difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep, here are a few tips to help you fall asleep consistently! Reduce, limit, or eliminate… Reduce stress with relaxation techniques before bed. Deep breathing,...
read more
Stages One and Two of Sleep
Society seems to frown on sleep as people fight against the signs of a failing internal balance. Yawns are treated with caffeine in coffee, and insomnia is silenced with pills. What exactly should a good night’s sleep do for you? The first stage of sleep is known as...
read more
The World of Sleep
“’It seems as if we are now living in a worldwide test of the negative consequences of sleep deprivation,’ says Robert Stickgold, director of the Center for Sleep and Cognition at Harvard Medical School” (Finkel 47). Sleep does more than you may think. Besides being...
read more
If You Must…
Eating before bed is rarely a good idea, but if you must, here are a few tips to keep those late-night excursions from disrupting your sleep too much. To start with, the biggest things to avoid are big meals, caffeine (at least 6 hours before bed), alcohol (at least 6...
read more
Sleep and Colors
The color of your bedroom walls plays a role in how well you sleep. Some colors suppress sleep while others help maximize its effectiveness. In a study by the hotel brand Travelodge, researchers analyzed 2000 bedrooms to determine which colors helped and which ones...
read more