Eight Hours of Glorious Sleep!
My top self-care tip is 8 hours sleep each night. Everything else seems to flow from that.
This is even more important during stressful times like the holiday season.
With 8 hours sleep, our bodies can do what we ask of them. They can produce enough energy to travel the world, raise children, and share our gifts with the world.
Here are the two reasons 8 hours of nightly sleep will open your world to limitless possibilities.
Detox
Since overcoming multiple sclerosis, I have become quite a science geek. I became fascinated with biochemistry and how our body operates on a cellular level. One of the systems I think is super cool is our detox system. This is the system whereby our body turns toxins (think pesticides, chemicals, car exhaust, food additives) from their fat soluble, fatigue and fat promoting state to a water soluble state so they can travel from your fat cells and exit your body.
I think of this process like our body’s janitorial crew. It works when every one has gone home for the night, or when you are sleeping. This crew needs 8 hours to empty all the trash cans, dust and vacuum. If you are only getting 6 hours of sleep, not all the trash gets removed. It starts backing up; first in your lymph system, then in your endocrine system and so on. The bottom line is without 8 hours of sleep, your body can’t remove those environmental factors that promote fatigue, weight gain and illness.
Healing
Have you ever prolonged the flu or a cold because you were too busy to rest? That’s because your body can’t fuel your thinking/doing mind-body while also fighting off infection and repairing damage. As we might have experienced when trying to fight off that cold, your immune system works best when you get 8 hours or even more of sleep.
The same principles apply when you are dealing with things more serious, such as a chronic illness or adrenal fatigue. In that circumstance, your body is inflamed and it take a lot of night time hours to reduce that inflammation.
There are so many other benefits to 8 hours of sleep, including de-stressing, lifting the brain fog, and promoting happiness. Try it tonight. Go to bed in time for you to get 8 hours of sleep. Let us know how it feels.
Laurie Erdman is your Get Up & Go gal at www.chronicwellnesscoaching.com. She helps others overcome adrenal fatigue and the fatigue of chronic illness so they can get moving again.
Check out her new year jumpstart program, 30 Days to Get Up & Go: An Anti-inflammatory Diet Jumpstart starting soon.
Great post. Simple and to the point. I wrote about this on my blog last week but not really addressing the science behind why sleep is important. Your analogy of a janitorial crew really made it clear.
Great Post! I always hope to get 8 hours but it usually ends up being 6.5-7 hours. I am working on that. I have also found that cutting out sugar has really helped me sleep better and longer..
Thanks for the insight Laurie!
Ok, I am a chronic night owl and ‘under-sleeper’. Last night I went to bed a little earlier and got 8.5 hours in. I can definietly tell I needed it by how productive I have been today, and I feel much less stress. This is really well written, I love the janitorial analogy as well!
Scott Powers recently posted..The Worst Christmas Concert of All time and Some Year End Tax Tips
Agreed! The only times I ever catch a cold or the flu is when I haven’t been sleeping enough. Since my alarm goes off every morning at 5:00, I try my best to go to bed at 9:00. Speaking of which, I’m late for bed. Good night, sleep tight!
Natalie Duhamel, Holistic Health Coach recently posted..Wednesday Wisdom – December 21, 2011
So good to hear more agreement for an 8-hour sleep! I swear by it, but my partner thinks 7 is more than adequate, which is a huge area of conflict for us (mainly because I’m grouchy and tired!) Thank goodness for the holidays and long sleeps.
I’m actually pretty good at getting the 8 hours (or more). Now I understand why I should continue guilt-free!
I agree with everything! But how about us who can’t stay asleep? And eat clean.
Keep up the good work.
There’s no doubt when I say that almost everyone needs a good sleep quality. Nowadays, many people are experiencing sleep troubles due to various factors and most are seeking for natural remedies for sleep.
Prince recently posted..Top Five Getting to Rest Techniques
Some people said that the required hours for sleeping should be 9-10 hrs. I don’t know what to believe. All I’m sure about is that it can make you feel refreshed and can help you heal your sickness like flu or cough.
I believe that having the right amount of hours can totally heal your wounds easily and of course your sickness like fever. Also, my mom told me when I was a kid to always sleep during the afternoon ’cause it can help me grow taller. Maybe I hold on to this facts that’s why I always make sure that I have enough sleep.
Kate Anderson recently posted..Client Services Project Coordinator
Each day I get 6 hrs. of sleep monday thru friday and if I am lucky,a couple more hrs on the weekend.I never get sick and do not get a flu shot ever,and work 50+ hrs. a week.I’m 60 yrs. old and in great health.