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Five Easy Tips For Getting Baby to Sleep

lilsugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:00:22 -0800

Newborns need sleep, but even the most tired bundle of joy can use a little help getting some shut-eye from time to time. There are a few tried and true methods that can help take your wee one off to the land of nod. Check them out in our slideshow.

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Napping Improves Your Memory

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Raise your hand if you're gearing up for a Thanksgiving food coma on the couch! While lying down after a huge meal doesn't help the digestion process, napping is good for your brain.

A recent study shows snoozing for a short time may help to boost your memory, and help you learn new tasks and ideas. It may also encourage creativity and the ability to see the big picture. Scientists have discovered that the "slow-wave sleep" that occurs in the beginning of a sleep session is more important than the REM, or dream sleep that occurs once you've been sleeping for a while. That means a power nap, even a short 12-minute nod can be beneficial to our bodies and to our brains. Happy napping!

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Another Reason to Exercise: Deeper Sleep

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

At a time when money is keeping worried people up at night, finding ways to get quality rest is a challenge for more people than before the economy was a constant stress. Efficient solutions are important for busy gals like us, and this two-in-one formula is a welcome fix: exercise can help you battle the money-induced stress and get you to sleep through the night.

A recent study involving insomniac patients in Brazil found that moderate cardio exercise has a calming affect on anxiety and improves sleep quality, both in the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and total sleep time. It is noteworthy that the patients participated in moderate, not heavy, aerobic exercise.

Sleep gives us energy for the day, improves mental clarity, and allows us to get through the day with wide-open eyes and diminished dark circles. If exercise can help us achieve a good night's rest, it's just another reason to get moving!

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Treat Yourself Right After a Sleepless Night

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:00:54 -0700

There are so many things keeping me up at night these days: the economy, the election, one of my girls having bad dreams, and the other having a 24-hour flu. The day following a restless night can be pretty brutal. Nighttime tossing and turning can be frustrating, making your routine the following day feel monumental. Here are some tips for making it through the day and ensuring that sleep does not elude you two nights in a row.

Don't drink extra caffeine. You might be tempted to wake yourself up with a second cup of joe or some black tea, but don't give in to the temptation. Caffeine has a half-life and can remain in your system, preventing you from sleeping later on.
Do eat. Missing meals will further drain your energy, but do eat healthy and nutritious foods. Choose nuts and fruits as a snack over a cookie.
Do not nap. Upon returning home from work, the sofa will probably look inviting, but napping now could interfere with your ability to sleep well later. And that is something you really want to avoid.

For more survival tips, just

A Quick Tip For Beauty Sleep

BellaSugarUK — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:00:00 -0700

I'm so good in bed, I could sleep for days — goes the old adage. If this sounds like you, then that could be just what your skin needs. During sleep your body and skin is able to heal and repair itself most effectively. For this reason, dermatologists often suggest using your most active skin care products at night when they have the a chance to do their best work.

Special overnight treatments, such as the amazing Guerlain Issima Midnight Secret (£53), which plumps up the skin leaving it looking (almost) good as new. I also love The Organic Pharmacy's Antioxidant Face Firming Serum (£59.95), which you apply instead of a moisturiser at night to wake up to younger looking skin.

The sleep itself though is the real beauty saviour. For a few tips for making sure your skin gets all of the nighttime nourishment it needs, just

Trouble Waking Up? Try Sleeptracker Pro

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Some of you may have a difficult time falling or staying asleep, but others are the opposite. You hit snoozeland as soon as your head hits the pillow and you could end up sleeping until lunch. If that's the case, you probably have a really tough time waking up, and this little device called the Sleeptracker Pro ($179) may interest you. Just as its name states, it tracks the series of sleep cycles your body experiences throughout the night. Most people will go through four to five full rounds of these 90 to 110 minute cycles, which are comprised of five stages. In Stages 1 and 2, you're lightly sleeping, and Stages 3 and 4, known as Delta Sleep, are when you're in the heaviest sleep. This is when your body has the chance to rebuild itself. Stage 5 is known as REM sleep is when we dream.

As your body undergoes these cycles, the Sleeptracker Pro's sensors can figure out what points during the night you are "almost awake." You set the alarm for a certain window of time, say 6:15 to 6:30 a.m., and the watch gently wakes you at the most optimal moment when you're most alert. This device may be great if you tend to be coma-like each morning. The only downside is that wearing a bulky wrist watch like this may be annoying and it'll keep you up all night. If you're a deep sleeper though, you probably won't even notice it. What do you think of the Sleeptacker Pro? Is this a helpful gadget or a waste of money?

Apparently Dr. Phil is a huge fan. To hear what he had to say

Smells Can Affect Your Dreams

DearSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0700

The smell of apple pie always reminds me of my grandmother, who used to make it whenever I came to visit. I'm sure you have certain feelings and memories connected to scents too. And just as they affect us during the day, researchers have found that aromas can influence the emotions we experience when we sleep. Fifteen women in their 20s were part of this dream study. Each had a tube taped to their nostrils and while they slept, one of three scents was pumped through their noses: rotten eggs, roses, and plain air. While they snoozed, their brain activity was monitored. The scientists allowed them to reach REM sleep and after one minute, they woke them up and asked the sleepers to describe what they were dreaming about. The women didn't dream about the specific smells like you might think, but rather when they smelled roses, they had pleasant dreams, and when they smelled rotten eggs, their dreams were just the opposite.

Isn't that interesting? Since a good night's sleep is so important to our health and overall well-being, I'm all for anything that can inspire some delightful dreams, so go out and buy some lovely scented candles or sheet spray for your pillows. Lavender essential oil will also do the trick. Try it, and let us know how it works!

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Restless Legs Syndrome: More Common Than You Think

FitSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:00:00 -0700

After I'm busy all day with work, spending time with my family, and everything else, it's such a relief for my body and mind to snuggle down and fall asleep in my big comfy bed. For other people though, sleeping is a real challenge. It's not because their minds are reeling; it has to do with how their body reacts to the physical sensation of lying down. The disorder is known as Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and it affects 10 percent of Americans.

To say the feeling is unpleasant would be an understatement. People suffering from RLS describe it as mild shocks of electricity down their legs, ants crawling on their skin, or bubbly soda pulsing through their veins. They have this unexplainable urge to move, to kick, and to get up and walk around in order to relieve their discomfort. These feelings can last all night making sleep impossible, so that's why it's known as a sleep disorder, but these sensations can also arise after long periods of inactivity such as sitting at a desk or in a plane.

To hear more about RLS

For Better Sleep, Turn Off the Blue Light

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0700

A couple of years ago, I bought a new digital alarm clock. The numbers are displayed with blue light instead of red. I thought blue light would be more soothing and possibly help me drift off more easily to the land of nod. Boy, was I wrong.

Blue light actually interferes with the production of melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep. TVs and computer screens also emit blue light, which is why you should turn off the electronic gadgets an hour before bedtime, so your body can start producing melatonin. In fact, blue light is so powerful at interfering with our ability to sleep that some truckers use blue lights to keep them awake on long nights on the road. The blue light helps truckers reset their circadian rhythm and tricks them into thinking morning is fast approaching.

I am replacing the blue clock because sometimes I need all the help I can get when it comes to falling asleep.

Cures For Troubled Sleep

FitSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Difficulty sleeping, can make the night long and the following day feel even longer. Ads for prescription sleeping pills run frequently on late-night TV, but studies show that adopting healthy sleep hygiene is as effective as medication with no side effects. Here are some "home remedies" for your insomnia.

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