Take Control of Your Sleep, Stress, and Weight!

As you know from our previous blog post, sleep, stress, and weight are all pretty much related to each other, and can be a major cause of one another. With that being said, it is important to take action and gain a sense of control over these three health issues.

Check out these tips on how you can improve your sleep, stress, and weight loss: 

Sleep:

Create a strict schedule. Depending on the day you might have a different sleeping schedule – you might be waking up 2 hours later on the weekends in comparison to weekdays. Unfortunately, sleeping those extra 2 hours might actually be making your sleep troubles worse. Sleeping at the same time every day (even weekends) will actually regulate your body’s sleep clock and help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

Avoid naps. We all love naps, in fact they help many of us get through the day – there’s a reason why we call them power naps. For people who have trouble falling asleep, naps might not be the best decision. Try avoiding naps so you aren’t even more awake when you try sleeping later that night.

Evaluate your room. So you’re doing everything possible to sleep but you’re still struggling? It could be your room! Your room should be designed to make it a relaxing setting – where you can easily fall asleep, no distractions! Things like lights and noise can easily disturb your slumber, so make sure before you get into bed that your room is distraction free – turn off your TV!

Stress:

Practice relaxation techniques. Stress is something unavoidable but relaxation techniques can help you get through it! Release some stress by attending a yoga class and getting your “zen” on. Don’t have time to attend a yoga class? Take 3 minutes to yourself and do some breathing exercises. This will help you relax and get your feeling like yourself in no time.

Implement time management. Many of us suffer the most stress when we are scrambling to catch up on your long to-do list. It’s time to practice time management, stop procrastinating, and get organized. Switching from one thing to the other and trying to multitask can be very stressful itself – try time management and you’ll see some improvement.

Spend time with friends and family. No matter who you are or what age you are, having a strong support system is important – especially during stressful times. Talking to friends and family about your problems can help relieve some stress – hey they may even offer some help to get your get through the tough times.

Weight:

Drink plenty of water. We are told drinking plenty of water is good for your overall health – but it can also help you lose weight. In fact, drinking water can boost your metabolism by 24-20% over a period of 1-1.5 hours, thus helping your burn off some calories – so drink up!

Don’t diet, eat healthy. There are so many diets out there that rarely work, or might just not be for you. Instead of trying a new “diet”, try implementing healthier food choices to your daily meals. Try consulting with a nutritionist as well and see what the nutritional changes might work for you best.

Implement a workout routine. Burning calories is pretty important for weigh loss – which is why working out is extremely important to implement in your weight loss journey. Go for a jog around the neighborhood or hit the local gym – whatever you decide to do just make sure you’re moving!

When you’re having trouble falling asleep, feeling stressed, or feel hopeless on your weight loss journey, make sure to incorporate some of these tips to improve your quality of life!