Did you know that it’s actually beneficial to your health to give in to the winter urge to hibernate and get enough sleep? Getting at least seven to eight hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep will help you maintain just about every aspect of your health, from disease prevention to weight maintenance, and ultimately help you enjoy a longer life.
Does Your Bedroom Affect Your Sleep?
Think about it. You spend a third of your life sleeping, so your environment for sleeping should soothing and relaxing…and quiet! This means that your bedroom should ideally be located in a less trafficked area of your home. You should also take steps to soundproof the room if your neighborhood and surrounding areas tend to be noisy.
• Lighting. The lighting should be dim and any music that is played should be peaceful.
• Decoration. Keep the décor minimal, with nothing busy to detract from your sleep. Colors should be in the realm of blues, greens, and grays.
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• No plants. Surprised? The reason is that plants give off carbon dioxide and deplete the oxygen in the air you breathe.
• Limit the electronics. Computers or televisions in your bedroom because they generate electromagnetic fields and positive ions that can induce irritability and agitation.
An Easy Feng Shui Lesson
The principle of feng shui is based on the ancient Taoist concept of energetic polarity. Yin and yang are the terms for describing the energy states in the universe, which are both opposite and complementary. Activities in our lives fit into different yin or yang categories. If you want to lead a long and healthy life, you would do well to strike a balance between the two polarities.
• Yin. Yin embodies negative electrical charge and contractive energy, and its directions are north – the negative pole, and west, where the sun sets. Relaxing activities such as sleeping, reading, and bathing are yin activities.
• Yang. Yang is characterized by positive electrical charge and expansive energy states, and its directions are south – considered the positive pole, and east, where the sun rises. Energetic activities such as exercise, cooking, engaging in hobbies, and studying are yang.
This means that your bedroom and bathroom should be located in the northern and western areas of your home, and your office, kitchen, living room, and dining room are best in southern and eastern locations.
What Else You Need For Better Quality Sleep
Quality of sleep is as important as the quantity of sleep. Often we think we sleep for eight hours, but unless we are getting good quality REM sleep, which is when the body truly rests, we will awake feeling as if we hadn’t slept at all. Here are the ways to be sure you are getting quality sleep:
• Do not eat late. Your last meal should be no later than seven in the evening.
• Do not exercise just before bed. You should engage in no strenuous exercise for at least two hours before bed.
• No pets in the bedroom. Sleeping with pets often causes restless sleep.
You may also like to try this sitting meditation a half an hour before bed: Sit comfortably at the edge of a firm seat with your back erect and your head tilted slightly downwards. Place your arms gently over your lap and breathe slowly, deliberately, and gently. Keep your eyes slightly closed. Do this for 15-20 minutes.
Visit the BlackDoctor.org Home Health center for more articles and tips.
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