You may have heard about the many virtues of sleep countless times. Falling asleep seems akin to a quest whose priceless rewards only belong to those who discover how to pierce its age-old secrets.
Surely, we’ve all experienced the disastrous consequences of a restless night and know all too well how being tired feels… Yet, beyond the importance of starting the day feeling refreshed and with a spring in our step, why is sleep considered such a panacea?
Sleep Promotes… Rest, Quite Simply
Above all else, our bodies and minds need sleep to rest. Our organs are quite incapable of working on a continuous basis and greatly benefit from those hours spent on idle mode. When we are asleep, our blood pressure goes down, our heart beats more slowly, our muscles are not being challenged, and our nervous system gets to take a break. Our brain uses this opportunity to sort through newly acquired information.
However, we sometimes have difficulty allowing tiredness to play its part. Promoting sleep, thanks to a HoomBand headband, for instance, can prevent us from having to experience the consequences we expose ourselves to when we can’t manage to fall asleep. Mood swings, concentration issues, and even lowered immune defenses, sugar cravings and a harder time handling stress are just a few of many complications a lack of sleep can create.
Gentle Re-Balancing
The famed “biological clock” is far from a myth. On the contrary, when we sleep, it allows our body to recover its equilibrium. Our body temperature, for instance, goes down to 36 °C (below 97 °F) instead of the 37 °C (or over 98.5 °F) we need to maintain throughout the day.
Saving this energy helps in cell regeneration, reinforces the immune system and contributes to proper hormone production. It is only during sleep that the body secretes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a highly important hormone which supports organ recovery and enhances short-term memory. As for well-known melatonin, it is only produced after several hours of shut eye. Unto itself, it is responsible for regulating the circadian rhythm which, in turn, allows a number of other hormones to work harmoniously.
This is why, when we experience difficulty falling and staying asleep, the issues usually go from bad to worse, as a vicious cycle takes hold. Promoting relaxation thanks to a HoomBand and working towards being able to “let go” gives your entire body permission to reap some amazing benefits.
Deep Repair
A deep slumber lets our emotions and all the events we went through during the day merge into memories. Dreams play a large part in this sorting operation, and only come in during a phase known as REM sleep – or Rapid Eye Movement, sometimes referred to as paradoxical sleep. This phase circles back several times over the course of a night, but only lasts up to twenty minutes within each cycle. As the night progresses, the quality of this phase improves, which is why not waking up until morning is so important.
Much like our spirit, our cells regenerate and re-oxygenate at night. Our muscles use this moment to re-build and to adjust to our level of physical activity. Even the healing process is boosted during this time of rest, and this is also when children undergo the most growth. Finally, quality sleep increases the production of white blood cells, which play a significant part in our immune system.
A good night’s sleep turns out to be much more important than one might think, as sleeping occupies a central role in how the human body functions. Better to make this moment of rest a priority. A calm, peaceful evening, a relaxing cup of herbal tea and a Hoomband headband will take you to the land of dreams in no time for the most ultimate form of self-care.
Sometimes, realizing the impact sleep has on our overall health is enough to grant it the position it deserves. For others, sleeping disorders can arise. Professionals recommend not to allow a sense of guilt to take hold, as it would be counterproductive. Sleeping is a way to gently look after our body and mind. So why not apply more thoughtfulness and accept that re-learning to let peacefulness work its magic is a process that should evolve at its own pace?
