7-Day Sleep Challenge
Objective
Take the 7-day Sleep Challenge and FEEL the difference! Imagine. You can do something healthy for your body, and for once, dieting and exercising is not the focus. SLEEP is the focus and it’s a good one! Sleep and the lack of it can be directly related to how we eat and exercise, but in this challenge recharging the body optimally is the main focus.
Steps
A successful beginning is key to a successful ending. Start the first day with a clean and inviting sleep environment. Clean and declutter bedroom if needed.
Make the bed with clean sheets made from 250 or more thread count.
Have a quality pillow. A quality pillow means finding the pillow(s) that help your body stay aligned during sleep. Ask your chiropractor or orthopedist about which pillow supports may be right for your body.
Hang window darkening curtains.
Make sure the temperature of the room is slightly cool. Use a fan if necessary.
Set an old fashion alarm clock.
Important: Remove all stimulation from your bedroom such as technology- computers, phone, TV, etc. In order for your brain to shut down these things must be off.
Cut caffeine by noon.
Pick a bed time - 10:00 or sooner is recommended.
At bedtime be relentless in brushing your teeth, taking a shower, and going to bed.
Once in bed don’t get up unless it’s an urgent situation or an emergency. Even if your brain does not “shut off” don’t get up. Rest from all brain stimulation.
Once you get to bed don’t get up until the alarm goes off, unless of course it’s urgent. Being hungry doesn’t count. Don’t eat during the night. Food is energy. Save energy consumption for the daytime. Fasting is beneficial while sleeping.
Goals
You are engaging in sleep training and the 7 day challenge trains the body and the brain to create a new and healthy sleep routine.
It may be hard the first 4-6 days. Then it will likely get easier to fall asleep. If you are not sleeping through the night by the 7th night give it three more nights.
Bodies and minds are all different so time may vary but after decades of a sleepless routines 7 to 10 days to quality sleep is remarkable.
Benefits
Sleep is essential to the body functioning at its peak and the benefits of a fully recharged body are numerous.
Science suggests that sleep boosts your immune system, helps prevent weight gain, strengthens your heart, promotes a positive mood, can help increase productivity, can increase physical performance, and helps improve your memory. To learn more about each of these topics in more detail, check out this fantastic online article, “Benefits of Getting A Full Night’s Sleep” retrieved from SCLHealth.
Remember, nothing replaces sleep except sleep.
If you decide to take the sleep challenge feel free to share your results with me here.