Live Whole Health #168: Sleep is an essential for our bodies

Sleep is an essential part of our body’s ability to maintain good health. Many people struggle with getting enough, which can be due to having difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking up earlier than desired. Even those who seem to sleep well through the night may wake up tired. The amount of sleep needed is different from person to person and may change throughout our lives.

Insomnia is more common with age, so there may be a time when you need to work a little harder to get good sleep. This could be because of a short-term period of stress or travel which disrupts your typical sleep-wake cycle. Using good sleep habits can help people get back on track.

Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, decreased performance at work and daily activities, and low energy levels, which may impact doing things you enjoy, like exercise or being out in nature. Focusing on a good night’s sleep can improve many aspects of your health.

Sleep rituals or routines are known to help the body and mind learn when it is time to wind down and go to sleep. Changing into comfortable pajamas, brushing your teeth and reading a book all before bed can all be signals to our body and mind that this restful time is approaching. Making these routines a habit can enhance sleep effectiveness. Acupressure is a great self-care addition to the pre-sleep routine. This technique can be done shortly before bed to help the body prepare for a good night’s sleep. If you wake in the night and are unable to fall back asleep, this routine may also help return the body to a relaxed state.

Add this 11-minute acupressure routine with RN Laurieanne Nabinger from the Seattle VA Medical Center to help support your own healthy sleep patterns. You can print the accompanying handout, which lists the acupressure points. Once you have learned the routine by watching the video a couple times, you could place the handout by the bed side as a reminder to do the acupressure routine before bed or if you wake during in the night.

Recharge

To recharge means to re-energize by sleeping, resting and relaxing. To live well and enjoy life, your body needs to have enough of each of these every day. Sleep, rest and relaxation refresh your body and mind. A good balance between activity and rest improves your health and well-being. The resources and tools offered here will help you find new ways to recharge.

More about Whole Health

To learn more about Whole Health and how you can start your journey to a healthier you, visit VA Whole Health.