Tag: Sleep

Happiness · Health

5 Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp

Jayne1 Comment

5 Ways to Keep Your Brain SharpI don’t know about you, but I feel that with each child I’ve produced, a little bit more of my brain has dissolved. That’s not to blame the kids, but I used to be sharp as a tack and it feels like years of sleep deprivation, remembering 101 appointments and events, plus a healthy dose of kids TV has turned my brain to mush. I struggle to concentrate on basic stuff these days and recently it’s been bothering me. I’ve been trying to find mew ways to keep my brain active – here are a few things I’ve come up with:

Typing Games

Because of my job, I do a fair bit of typing and my typing speed as massively improved over the years. However, I do most of it on autopilot, without actually thinking too hard about it. However, when I play a typing game, my fingers move over the keyboard but I have to think a lot harder about the connection between what my eyes are seeing and what my hands are doing, which seems to give my brain a real jolt.

Learn Something

While I’m not in a positon to study formally at the moment (that OU degree is still out there, unfinished!), I try to learn just one new thing each day. Even if it’s looking up the definition of a word or Googling something about a person or a place, storing new data is one of the best ways to keep your brain fresh.

Grab a Coffee

This one was MUSIC TO MY EARS when I found this out – studies suggests a caffeine habit may protect the brain! According to several studies, two to four cups a day may decrease the incidence of Alzheimer’s by 30 to 60 percent. It is unclear whether the benefits come from caffeine or the antioxidants found in coffee and tea, but either way, I am FULLY on board!

Challenge Yourself

I think one of the reasons my brain is feeling dormant is because I don’t challenge myself enough. My life, relatively speaking, is too easy, and like any other muscle in your body, the brain needs regular challenges to help it to stay on top of it’s game. Choose an extra hard crossword or bingewatch some University Challenge as a starting point.

SLEEEEP

Another suggestion that I like the sound of is making sure you get enough sleep. A lack of sleep can cause a real brain fog which makes it easy to function on any normal level. When we don’t sleep proteins build up in the brain which literally make it hard to think and learn new things. Sleep hygeine is important too – try to make sure the room is dark and resist the urge to use your phone too clase to bedtime.

Happiness · Health

3 Reasons to Treat Yourself like You’re Someone Worth Taking Care Of

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Image via Pixabay

We all grow up watching some pretty optimistic cartoons, hearing some pretty optimistic bedtime stories, and believing that our lives should be great, joyful adventures. And of course, they should be, and can be.

The sad thing, however, is that many of us become disheartened along the way due to struggles with hardships of various sorts.

What makes things worse, is the fact that we’re often so hard and callous towards ourselves even in the midst of all that sorrow and uncertainty.

You’d think we’d give ourselves a break, and set ourselves up with Tempur Mattresses and aromatic candles in order to help take the edge off and get some much-needed rest when things are rough. But many of us do the opposite, and beat ourselves up in addition to whatever life might be throwing at us.

Here are some reasons why it’s essential that you treat yourself like someone worth taking care of, instead.

Because you’re not “perfect the way you are”, but you’ve got something in you that is great and that deserves nurturing

One significant reason why people often fail to treat themselves with the care and respect they deserve, is because they feel that to do so would be to accept the idea that they are “perfect the way they are.”

That “perfect the way you are” line is often used by well-meaning people to boost our confidence, and help us see ourselves in a better light. But it very often backfires and irritates the people it’s applied to, because the truth is that no one is “perfect” the way they are. We are all human, and there’s always room for improvement.

Instead of telling yourself that you’re “perfect” as you are, tell yourself that there is something in you that is great and that deserves to be brought forth and nurtured. Because there really is.

Because to live a fulfilling and empowered life, you need to “work with” yourself, rather than trying to “dominate” yourself

Societies tend, sooner or later, to rebel when oppressed by brutal dictators. And so too will the different parts of your psyche “rebel” if you tyrannise yourself.

In order to live a fulfilling and empowered life, you need to “work with” yourself rather than trying to “dominate” yourself.

In other words, there’s a reason why, when it’s time to work, you may not feel like it. That reason is that part of your subconscious mind views work as suffering, and is concerned. The key is to gain the trust of that part of yourself by providing balance and compassion. By trying to “crush” it instead, you only throw yourself into further inner turmoil and anxiety.

Because you represent an endless pool of potential, and you can be and do so much if you only believe in yourself

Everyone represents an essentially endless pool of potential. That is to say, if your whole life was directed mindfully towards certain aims, you could achieve just about anything, either directly or indirectly.

The thing about potential is that it can be squandered. All you have to do to fail to meet your potential is to sit around, and not do anything. Then, the years will pass you by, and on your deathbed, you will realise that you missed your chances.

Treating yourself with respect and care, and constantly motivating and encouraging yourself forward, is the only way to maximise the expression of your potential, and to do great things with your life. So, why not set out on that path?

Kids

SLEEP TIPS FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

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Introduction

Being a super mom and dad to the kids with special needs and intelligence is proud. Imagine your kids doing a log of creative activity, running, thinking, making innovative plans and so on. Really you feel blessed to have kids, who are constantly colouring your life with their laughter and sometimes with their naughtiness. You though sometimes feel disturbed, but by heart you want all this happen. So, staying up and running after your kids is a challenge too for you. When you see them grow up, you are also worried about their nutrition, their growth, and their health. So, we will say, your special kids need your special attention. You have to take care of their special needs. So, sleep is very important for your kids, as the kids with high- functioning brain find it difficult to get settled into the bed and go to sleep for a longer time. They need a very comfortable place and space to sleep peacefully. According to Dr. Rachel Dawkins, all those kids who are paid special attention get a satisfactory measure of sleep have enhanced behavior, thinking, learning, memory, and generally speaking mental and physical wellbeing. Not getting enough rest can prompt hypertension, corpulence and even wretchedness. In order to provide them with the best environment, the parents need to make wise decisions regarding their bedding. You should choose suitable furniture and fabric in which they can sleep peacefully.

Get Comforts with Dreamcloud

So, concerning the special needs of your kids, DreamCloudoffers the best quality foam mattresses which are flexible, soft and cozy. When the matter is about your kid, then why staybehind in providing them with the ultimate comfort. Headboard with the frame is the best luxury and comfortable furniture. These are luxurious style headboards, which are soft and adjustable to your kids’ needs. You also need to try DreamCloud’s mattresses which come with the best memory foam, highly flexible to your kids’ body needs. Their superior quality and design provide the ultimate comfort. Their firm mattresses will not let your kid’s sleep disturb from any outside cause, whether it be their pet jumping beside them on the bed. You do not need to be worried about the prices, because it gives 365-night trial, and you can return it for free if you are unsatisfied with its quality. It means you get to experience the 4 seasons sleep. It comes with the free shipping, so most beneficiary on customer’s part. No need to travel and pick the mattresses, rather, they will be delivered right at your front door.

Who Else Is Better In It Too?

Awara is another mattress company well known for its quality foams. It provides the adjustable bed frames, so it is very easy to choose from their sophisticated range of bed frames and foams. You can adjust the mattresses according to the body of your kids, and the angles most suitable for them to sleep or sit at with the full-size adjustable bed frames from this mattress providing company.

Levelsleep is among the trusted companies to provide the spinal alignment products, as it comes up with clinically tested mattresses which you give relief in pain, fatigue, and restlessness. It makes Levelsleep ideal for your young ones who do the physical exertion all day long and sleep on these comfy mattresses. Children love their room colorful and decorated, so Wovenlyrugs comes with the creative and bright designs for the rug in the kids room. So, give your kids the best time and a well-decorated room, which enhances their mental capability, and best sleep time in such relaxing and ambient aura.

Some Tips To Help You With The Needs Of Your Special Kids In Their Sleep

No one else except parents knows what the needs of their lovely kids are. It often happens the bad sleeping habits may affect the overall performance of your children. Due to the uncomfortable sleeping patterns, children have to struggle mentally and physically. They get tired, mentally absent, and all the time fatigued, start to take less interest in the games or creative activities. Under such circumstances, the parents should cater to their young one’s problems. Here are few of the tips that will help you overcome such situations.

Uncomfortable Sleeping Place:

You need to regularly investigate the sleeping place of your kids, that how much comfortable their bed is. Whether the mattress they are using is up to the quality or not. You need to check its flexibility, rigidity, and softness. If you see anything abnormal and not up to the mark, you should replace it immediately with the double foam mattress. Many mattress companies including the Nectar provide memory foam mattress which aid to distribute the body mass and heat uniformly for a comfortable sleep. These retain to their original position once you shift the weight on it. So, these are best recommended for the kids who do a lot of physical exertion all day long and finally come to rest or for a nap.

Look Around What Is Right.

You do not need to fall for anyone’s opinion, but it is best to do a proper study for selecting what is right for your kid’s body. It does not even mean that you have to go for the expensive options to provide in order to choose something desirable for your kid, neither the low price will help at all. All you need to do is to see what the best quality in the market is, judge its pros and cons, and when you see it is meeting your demands, then go for it. So, it is wise to choose your best mattress by studying the following features.

• Suitable mattress sizes for your special kids
• Mattress firmness
• Mattress comfort
• Mattress support
• Motion transfer
• Mattress durability
• Type of Mattresses for the different posing sleepers
• Kinds of mattresses suitable for individuals with different problems.
• Best spots to buy the mattresses

Get Help From The Guides.

You do not have to rely wholly on the material, but you need to pay attention to another thing too. It is on the aesthetic sense and beauty of your kids’ environment. As discussed earlier, creative and bright atmosphere enhances the mental capabilities of your kids. Here the better sleep guide is helpful in determining what you need to do. You may choose from it the perfectly suitable beds, color schemes, and furniture for your kid’s room. Place the aesthetically beautiful things in your child’s space, where he or she may have the positive effect of these things on his/her mind. According to psychological research, children tend to grab the effects of things from their surroundings and it affects their behavior. Good things may give their mind a peaceful sleep, which in turn make them more productive.

Pass Some Time With Them

Along with providing them with their peace of mind through material and aesthetic comfort, your parent is important for them. Kids with the special needs, need their parents most around them. They want to share their thoughts with them and want to the stories from them. According to a research, the kids who tend to share their problem with their parents are mentally healthy, and they have healthy sleep patterns as compared to those kids whose parents couldn’t spend enough time with them. So, it is best to pass sometime before the sleep. Lie down beside them and make them feel your presence. Make them realize you are always with them, motivate them to be courageous and encourage them to be confident.

Verdict:

As discussed above, the best sleep tips for your kids are to take special care of their sleeping place. Keep regular check if their bed is bothering them during the sleep. Buy the best foam material from the market and do not forget to study the sleep guides. Pass the quality time with your kids, so they can share everything with you.

Baby · Parenting

The Next Big Thing in Parenting – Sleep Education

Jayne2 Comments

There is a lot of information out there that teaches you how to be a good parent. It talks about how to deal with tantrums, stubbornness, how to improve cognitive development, how to feed your child well and so on. There are so many issues you have to begin addressing as parents and the first thing to do is find the root of these issues. As with all roots, it lies in the dark.

Sleep, or the lack of it, is one of the biggest issues that need to be addressed by parents. It is a behaviour that is to be observed from infancy to the later years of the child’s life. It is one of the biggest contributing factors to the cognitive and physical development of the child. Here’s why all parents need to take a good hard look into the sleeping behaviours of their children.

Sleep and Cognitive Development

The cognitive development of a child begins in its infancy. It is observed that infants who slept less than 12 hours a day experienced poorer cognitive and language skill at two years. This is because there is a lot of activity in the brain during sleep and therefore, resulting in cognitive and memory consolidation. REM sleep is important as it is during this stage that the brain is active.

As they grow up, children who struggle to sleep have trouble paying attention in school. They have behavioural issues and are mostly irritable. During sleep, memories are reactivated and transferred from short term to long term. Sleep deprivation can make them forgetful, impacting their academic performance. Therefore, it is imperative for parents to provide a good sleeping environment for their child. Clinically proven products are available in the market to foster good sleep at any age.

Sleep and Physical Development

80% of the growth hormone ‘somatotropin’ is released during the Non-REM stage of sleep. Lack of sleep can create a deficiency in the production of the growth hormone. The growth of a child can be slowed down or stunned by sleep deprivation. It not only affects the child’s height but also the weight, lung strength and immune system.

It is important for parents to ensure that children sleep well throughout the night. If they have trouble sleeping, encourage naps during the day. However, the body functions much better while sleeping at night. It is critical for parents to check for good quality mattresses in the UK and compare features and reviews.

Sleep and Mental Illness

A lot of people are suffering from mental illnesses and many teenagers now fall under the category. Sleep deprivation has been perceived to be a consequence of mental illnesses like depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder and anxiety. However, it is also noticed that sleep problems can, in fact, be a contributing factor to mental illness.

Sleep deprivation can affect levels of neurotransmitters and stress hormones causing the brain to go into chaos. It impairs thinking, emotional regulation and leads to psychiatric illnesses. The treatment of mental illness is also affected if the patient continues to lose sleep. Participants in a study with a history of insomnia were more likely to develop depression. It is important for parents to keep a watchful eye out for behavioural changes in their children. CDB oil for sleep is a revolutionary product to reduce anxiety, combat insomnia and help improve sleeping patterns. The product has no side effects and is approved by doctors.

Sleep and Obesity

Sleep deprivation is directly linked to weight gain and obesity. The hormones leptin and ghrelin become irregular with lack of sleep, leading to increased BMI. Ghrelin is the hormone that stimulates appetite and increases with one night of sleep deprivation. Leptin is the hormone that regulates appetite, metabolism and calorie burning. It essentially sends signals to the brain that you are full. Sleep increases the level of leptin, telling your brain that you have enough energy. Lack of sleep reduces the levels of leptin and motivates you to eat more than you need.

Parents need to notice unusual appetite changes and regulate sleep cycles. Uncomfortable mattresses can often lead to sleep deprivation. Before purchasing popular brands like Kluft mattresses, it is imperative to first compare brands by features and quality of materials.

Sleep and Immune System

Sleep is essentially important for the body to rest, repair and heal. The relationship between sleep and the effective functioning of the immune system is quite complex. Sleep deprivation fundamentally suppresses the immune system. With increasing sleepless nights, the body’s ability to fight germs and illnesses decreases, making your child more susceptible to ailments.

With each phase of sleep, our body builds the ability to function efficiently. In a completely relaxed state, our body takes the initiative to repair damaged tissue and regrow new tissue. It is not through sleeping more but with sleeping efficiently does the body function the way it needs to. Parents can visit mattress brands, carpets and rug stores and do sufficient research to create a relaxing, nurturing sleeping environment for their child.

Sleep and Risk of Injury

Children who don’t get sufficient sleep are groggy, clumsy and tired. They may not be able to react to emergencies at the same speed. This can lead to children getting frequently injured and requiring medical attention. It can also slow down the process of healing from an injury. A research conducted among student athletes found that sleep hours was the strongest predictor of injuries.

It is a vital part of parenting to take on an active role in determining the sleeping behaviour of the child. In case symptoms of sleep deprivation are noticed, parents need to immediately encourage the child to use relaxation techniques like meditation and breathing exercises to help them sleep faster. The best way to combat insomnia is to create rigid sleep schedules from a very young age.

Healthy Sleeping Rituals

It is never too late to start healthy sleeping rituals. It can be beneficial for both, the parent and the child. Some healthy sleep rituals include relaxing music, warm chamomile tea, avoiding caffeine and sugary treats, a warm bath and an active life. It is a lifestyle change and would require you to take a closer look at how you treat your body. Physical exercise during the day can also help you fall asleep faster.

Reading stories in a tranquil voice to your child is not only a relaxation exercise but also a bonding opportunity. It is imperative to take time out to ensure that the child feels safe, comfortable and protected during the night. Anxieties during the day can often keep the child up at night if they are unable to process their emotions thoroughly. Therefore, it is important to spend time with your child every day, asking about their day and consciously creating a safe space for them to disclose information.

Baby

Five Methods That New Mums Can Use to Get More Sleep

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So your precious little one is home from the hospital and you are finding yourself constantly tired. Sleep deprivation is common in new mothers once the nurses are gone and no longer doing the work for you. If you are experiencing a lack of sleep because of your newborn, don’t worry. You are not the only one. Some of these tips may help you increase the amount of sleep you get so you can have energy to last the day.

Nap Time for Both

Sleep when the baby sleeps. If you lay the baby down for a nap and that wonderful mattress is calling for you, don’t ignore it. The laundry can wait, the cooking can wait. Answer that call and take a nap as well. You will feel invigorated when you wake up and you will not drag through those other chores that you put aside for a while.

Also delegate the work. Your spouse may work, but so do you! Save some of the chores for them. Just because you are home with the baby doesn’t mean you have time for all of the housework. Split it up. They live there as well, after all.

Pump Early

Some new mothers have a tendency to pump for breastmilk in the middle of the night. There was no more time in the day after cleaning dishes, washing and folding clothes, cooking, and caring for the baby. This is another reason to delegate the work off to others (if you have older children, put them to work as well). By giving you more free time, you will be able to pump before you go to bed, rather than at 2:00 in the morning.

Taking Shifts

So your spouse has to get up at 5am to go to work. You have to get up at 1, 3, 5, and 7 to take care of the baby’s needs. If the two of you take shifts during the night, you can split up the work and lessen your lack of sleep. Yes, they may have to go to work, but that doesn’t mean you should face the full brunt of sleep deprivation. Let them go to work lagging. You do.

Alternate Nights Off

New mothers tend to have a hard time not being the one to answer the call of their crying baby. Until they are sleep deprived. Then they force the spouse out of bed to tend to the newborn’s needs. Whereas doing things in shifts at night can help reduce your sleep deprivation (but increase your spouse’s), try alternating nights off. This way you each will get a decent night’s sleep every other night, allowing you both to get through your days easier.

Separate Rooms

Do you have a spare bedroom? If so, make use of it. On your nights off, or when you are not on your nightly shift, try sleeping in the extra room. Don’t want to be away from your baby? That’s okay. It’s called motherly instinct. Not sure if your spouse can handle it alone? You do, why can’t they! It’s sink or swim, and 10 times out of 10 they will swim. It’s okay to leave your significant other with the responsibility.

If the extra room is an office or study, oh well. Put a bed or futon in there and get some shut eye while your other half listens out for your little one. You can shut the door and have it a little quieter; if there are any problems, your spouse will let you know. Separate yourself so you can get some sleep.