By Angel Naivalu – MSW, Life Coach
People love coming to Movara because we take care of everything — nutrient-dense, delicious food with precise caloric measurements; fitness programs on a set schedule; lectures addressing the emotional and mental components of wellness; along with built-in accountability and encouragement. Guest accommodations let you sleep comfortably at the resort when you’re here, but how important is sleep anyway?
How much attention are you giving to the quantity and quality of your sleep in your health and wellness plan?
Although individuals’ sleep requirements can vary, the quality of your sleep has been shown to have a direct impact on weight gain and obesity.¹ Paying attention to your bedtime routine may be one of the core elements to achieving your long-term fitness goals. Many people choose to “wind down,” at night by flipping through social media or watching videos on their devices. Did you know that the light from your device’s screen sends a signal to the brain that suggests it is still daylight and can impact the body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that aids in sleep?² Our busy, on-the-go, addicted-to, “doing” lifestyles, have many of us disconnected from our innate circadian rhythms. This is a natural system in the body that regulates the sleep/wake cycle. You can quite easily begin to realign your body’s rhythms if you will make an effort to follow the patterns of the sun. When the sun goes down in the evening, let it be a reminder to shut off your electronic devices, dim the lights in the home, and minimize sound. It is a brilliant time to practice a breathing exercise or listen to a guided meditation. Giving the mind a period of time to slow down and unwind, naturally, helps to prepare the body for deep, restful, rejuvenating sleep.
During sleep hours, the tissues in the gut and digestion systems grow and repair themselves.³ Sleep is a time when nutrients consumed during the day are absorbed and delivered throughout the body. If you are struggling with getting consistent sleep, there are many relaxing audio recordings online designed specifically to enhance sleep quality, that you can access and allow to play in the background during the night. (Just turn the screen away from your face ????).
The lack of quality sleep has also been directly correlated with many mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.⁴ Research is finding that far too little attention has been given to the impact of sleep on the overall mental and emotional well-being of a person.⁵
