HOW TO SLEEP BETTER: THE SIMPLE WAYS TO STICK WITH IT
You’ve probably heard this advice before: a good night’s sleep is the secret to a better, happier life. It’s not just empty words. Constant lack of sleep can have serious consequences in the long run. For example, insufficient sleep increases your risk of obesity and diabetes, leads to impaired cognitive function, and even causes depression.
We all know that getting enough sleep every night is one of the best ways to feel energized and happy throughout the day – but for many of us, it remains challenging as we lead busy lives. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, almost one-third of adults report getting fewer than seven hours of sleep on an average night.
Fortunately, there are some simple tricks you can use to get more restful nights and lead a healthier lifestyle overall. Read on for some great advice on how you can stick with a routine that will leave you feeling refreshed every morning.
Establish a regular bedtime routine
A bedtime routine has many advantages over a strict bedtime. If you go to bed with the same thought patterns and behaviours every night, your body will start associating them with sleep. You might think about what you need to get done the next day, or any issues you’re facing; if you go to sleep with this running through your head, you’ll be more likely to lie awake for a long time, unable to drop off.
A bedtime routine can help you to drop off more quickly, meaning that you’ll get more rest even if you don’t have a strict bedtime. Examples of a bedtime routine include reading a book, journaling, meditation, or even just having a cup of tea while reading a magazine.
Don’t eat too late at night
A large meal at the end of the day can cause digestive problems, making it difficult to get to sleep. Ideally, you should finish eating about three hours before your bedtime. That way, the food has enough time to digest, but you’re not lying awake in bed with a growling stomach. It’s also important to avoid drinking too much water before bed. You can wake up frequently to go to the bathroom, which will inhibit your ability to get quality sleep. If you want to eat a meal before bed, try something light. A bowl of cereal, or a small smoothie, are easy options that won’t disrupt your sleep.
Get blackout curtains and good lighting
One of the most common issues that people have with sleep is light. If you have too much light in your bedroom, you’ll have a much harder time falling asleep. Some people, particularly those who work the night shift, will benefit from using blackout curtains. This will block out light coming in from outside.
If you don’t have blackout curtains, or if you don’t have enough light coming in to block out the sun, there are plenty of lighting solutions. You can simply use a regular lamp with a dimmer switch, or you can use a specialized sleep light.
Don’t multitask an hour before bed
A lot of people like to wind down with a little TV; it helps them to relax so that they can fall asleep. Unfortunately, this is a bad move. The blue light emitted by TV and computer screens can actually disrupt your circadian rhythm, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Instead, try to do something relaxing, but low-key, like reading a book or having a cup of tea. Alternatively, if you are someone who likes to journal or meditate, then journaling or meditating can be a great way to wind down.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise is one of the best ways to improve your sleep. Exercise helps to improve sleep quality in a number of ways. First, it improves your overall health and wellness, which leads to lower stress levels and a better mood at the end of the day. Exercise is also excellent for helping you to regulate your circadian rhythm and improve your sleep timing.
Regular exercise can also help you to reduce insomnia, especially among people who suffer from mild insomnia. If you have difficulty sleeping, try exercising regularly to improve your sleep quality. You can engage in aerobic exercise (like brisk walking, running, swimming, or cycling), or strength training. If you’re not sure where to start, check out our article on how to start a regular exercise routine.
Meditate or do breathing exercises
If you have trouble falling asleep, it may be a good idea to try meditating or doing breathing exercises before you go to bed. Choose something that works for you. There are plenty of guides available online to help you get started. Alternatively, you can try using an app like Calm or Headspace. Meditation is a great way to relax your body and clear your head, making it easier to fall asleep. If you don’t have the patience for it, try doing some breathing exercises instead. Focus on your breathing, and how it feels as you inhale and exhale.
Track your sleep habits and conditions to identify problem areas
If you’ve tried everything on this list and you’re still having trouble sleeping, it’s time to start tracking your sleep habits.
Figure out when you’re getting the most sleep, and when you’re getting the least. Do you have trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep? Is it consistent? Start keeping a sleep journal to track your sleep habits, and you’ll be able to identify problem areas. You might find that you wake up every night at the same time, in which case you can adjust your schedule to accommodate your body. Or maybe you’re getting too much light in your bedroom. Once you’ve tracked your sleep habits and conditions, you can take steps to improve them.
Bottom line
Getting enough sleep is essential to your health, productivity, and well-being. Unfortunately, the modern world makes this incredibly difficult. The good news is that there are loads of ways to improve your sleep. All you need to do is make a few small changes. And then you’ll be well on your way to a better quality of life. Don’t eat late at night, use blackout curtains, don’t multitask before bed, exercise regularly, and you may even want to consider meditating or doing breathing exercises. All of these things are proven to improve sleep and will make your life better in so many ways.
9 BEST EXERCISES THAT WILL HELP YOU GET RID OF STUBBORN FAT
As much as you might want to get rid of that stubborn fat, the fact is that it's pretty hard to shed. So, if you're looking for the best exercises that will help you get rid of stubborn fat, then read on! These 9 best exercises that will help you get rid of stubborn fat will help you melt fat, tone and strengthen your muscles, and boost your metabolism. Let's take a look at these 9 awesome exercises that will help you get rid of stubborn fat.
1. Barbell Squat
You've probably been told that squats are the best exercises for burning fat and strengthening your legs. But how exactly do they fit into this scheme? When performed correctly, the squat will help you get rid of any extra fat in your legs and improve their strength. Squats also help prevent injuries in your knees, hips, back, and ankles. To get the best results, try to avoid wide squats and go as low as you can without pain.
2. Jumping Rope
Jumping rope is one of the best exercises for getting rid of stubborn fat around your legs. It's also a great cardio workout for your heart, lungs and muscles. It can burn up to 500 calories per hour, which is more than most workouts.
You don't need any special equipment other than a jump rope, so you can do it almost anywhere. You'll also be able to do this exercise without putting too much stress on your joints or ligaments.
Get into a comfortable stance with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Hold the handles of the jump rope in each hand and position them at hip level with palms facing in toward each other. The handles should not be touching but should be within easy reach if needed during exercise execution.
Check that there is enough tension on the rope by pulling gently on each handle with both hands; if this is difficult then it means that there is no sufficient tension on the rope and you will not be able to execute turns well which would result in poor technique execution while jumping. Stand up tall with weight distributed evenly between both feet while keeping
3. Overhead Press
An overhead press is essentially a push-up that focuses more on the arms than the core. The exercise is a great fat burner, because it targets your arms and chest muscles, which are often neglected in traditional push-ups. Moreover, an overhead press is also a great way to build strength in the shoulders, especially for women. As we age, our muscles tend to weaken and get weak. This is especially true for the shoulder muscles that get exposed to a great deal of stress and tension from daily activities.
4. Step-up
The step-up is a great exercise for toning the glutes and strengthening the legs. The best thing about step-ups is that you can adjust the difficulty level according to your fitness level and exercise goals. If you’re looking to simply tone your legs, you can start with a lower step-up elevation. If you want to add strength and build more muscle, you can step up the elevation. As with most exercises, the more you step up, the more calories you’ll burn.
5. Bicep Curl
A good bicep curl is one of the best exercises for getting rid of stubborn fat in your arms and building muscle tone. Bicep curls not only strengthen your forearms but also shape your biceps. Achieving thick, strong biceps requires not only size but also shape. By performing bicep curls, you’ll build a lot of muscle while sculpting your arms into a more defined shape. Bicep curls are also a great way to increase your metabolism and kickstart fat loss.
6. Triceps Dip
The triceps is one of the largest muscle groups in the body, and it is responsible for the extension of the elbow joint. The best exercise for toning up this area is the triceps dip. The dip is one of the most effective ways of working out the triceps because you are not only challenging the weight on the downward movement, but also the upward movement. This means that not only will you develop your triceps more effectively, but you will also improve your cardiovascular fitness at the same time.
7. Leg Extension
The leg extension is one of the best exercises for building strength, muscle size, and improving your balance. As with most exercises, the more you do it, the stronger your legs will get. The extension is a great way to strengthen your legs because it’s an isolated movement. That is, it works the quadriceps muscles, which are the most powerful in your thighs. This exercise is also very safe and easy to do.
8. Chair Leg Curl
The chair leg curl is a great exercise for strengthening the hamstrings and building size. The best thing about the chair curl is that you can adjust the difficulty level according to your level of fitness and exercise goals. If you’re looking to simply get stronger, you can start with a lower elevation, but if you want to increase muscle mass and boost your metabolism, you can raise the chair. As with most exercises, the more you raise the chair, the more calories you’ll burn.
9. Jogging
This is one of the best exercises for getting rid of stubborn fat around your legs. It's also a great cardio workout for your heart, lungs and muscles. Plus, it's a low impact exercise so it's not going to put any stress on your joints.
Jogging is also known to improve cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate and improving blood circulation. You can also burn about 600 calories in an hour of jogging at a moderate pace (5 mph).
If you don't have time to go to the gym or don't like working out at home, then jogging is a great way to get some exercise in your day.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best exercises that will help you get rid of stubborn fat, then you’ve come to the right place. These 9 best exercises will help you achieve this goal. If you follow these workouts regularly, you will see results quickly. No matter what your fitness level is, you can benefit from these exercises. They are easy to follow, and you don’t need any special equipment to do them.
At the end of the day, eating the right foods and hitting the gym regularly are crucial to losing weight. You cannot sit at home on the couch and expect to see any results at all. Make sure you work your hardest, but also make sure to be consistent about it. If you dedicate yourself to exercising and making small dietary changes, over time you will see results. Lastly, don’t hesitate to ask for guidance from health coaches like Rita Trotter to help you get rid of those stubborn fats.
