My friends used to tell me that I was an old lady, because I'd always try to get to sleep around 10 p.m. I thought that was a respectable time to be in bed, and necessary, considering the fact that I get up at 6 a.m. during the weekdays to get ready for work.
If I'm really tired, I can fall asleep in just a few minutes. However, when I'm restless, it can be quite a battle finding that internal snooze button. However, one thing that always works to help me fall asleep is wrapping up in my polar fleece blanket.
I first became attached to having a polar fleece blanket when going to sleep a few years ago, when I was on a long flight and an attendant handed me a thin fleece throw to wrap up in. It was so soft and cuddly, that it did the trick. When I got home, I bought a dark gray polar fleece blanket, and soon wore that one out. Now, I have a light blue one that keeps me wrapped up at night. I have to have it to get a good night's rest.
Getting the right amount of sleep is so important in staying healthy--physically and mentally. According to a Washington Post article:
"The amount of necessary sleep varies from person to person, with some breezing through their days on just a few hours' slumber and others barely functioning without a full 10 hours, experts say. But most people apparently need between about seven and nine hours, with studies indicating that an increased risk for disease starts to kick in when people get less than six or seven, experts say."
On the other hand, according to Harvard University research, getting the right amount of sleep can help your:
- Memory
- Metabolism
- Cognitive functions
- Body repair tissue
So, it seems that my polar fleece blanket is, in a way helping me to stay well by helping me get to sleep.
We want to hear from you: "What kind of nighttime rituals do you have to prepare for a good night's sleep?"
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