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Quality Sleep Equals Improved Health

Managing stress and anxiety are critical to ensuring a good night’s sleep.  There are many reasons for poor quality of sleep, but a common link is anxiety and stress. Poor quality of rest reduces effectiveness at work, fractures relationships and has an overall negative impact on an individual’s health, thus contributing further to stress and anxiety and trapping a person in a negative spiral.
The first step to improving quality of sleep is to examine your stress and anxiety levels. Make an appointment with your doctor to obtain a complete physical and review with the doctor any contributing factors that may be causing the stress and anxiety.  Take doctor’s council on community resources for resolution of any issues. Poor quality of sleep is a symptom and not the underlying problem.
The  following steps will promote a higher quality of sleep:

  • Exercise promotes good health but abstain from vigorous activity before going to bed. Develop an exercise program of 30 minutes a day and then adhere to it.
  • When preparing for bed play soft soothing music, your body will automatically begin to wind down.
  • Make getting a good night’s rest a priority; don’t stay up until “everything is done”.
  • Establish and maintain a bed time routine.
  • Avoid stimulants such as coffee, chocolate and nicotine, the use of alcohol prior to bedtime is not recommended.
  • Use the bedroom as a bedroom. It should not be used for TV, or any other electronic. Turn off the cell phone and avoiding texting, those activities are stimulating and disrupt a relaxing environment.

A good night’s sleep is critical to wellness and managing stress and anxiety will help to ensure you are getting the rest you need.