health – Lubbocks Home and Family Magazine

Sleep Tight with These Tips

Courtney Dietz — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Sleep Tight with these Tips

Kristin Rodin

Fun fact: you’ll spend about one-third of your life sleeping – or attempting to. There can be many reasons why you struggle to get a good night’s rest, but the fact remains, getting some shut eye can help you stay alert and feel good throughout the day. Consider trying out these tips to improve your sleep – and your health.

Why you need a sleep schedule

Maintaining a regular sleep schedule is a bigger deal than you might think. Keeping your internal clock consistent means your body can better regulate your mood and hunger throughout the day. Not only can following a schedule make it easier to fall asleep and wake up, but recent sleep studies indicate a regular sleep schedule can help lower the risk of heart disease.

Keep your bedroom peaceful

When it comes to improving your sleep, it all starts with your bedroom. Taking note of what bothers you at night can help you create a relaxing sleep environment and give you a better chance at a good night’s rest.

If lights are straining your eyes and disrupting your sleep cycle, invest in light blocking curtains or wear a sleep mask over your eyes. Foam ear plugs or white noise machines can help block out loud noises and are available in a variety of options in stores and online. Above all, listen to your body and adjust. Temperature and bedding can make a world of a difference in your sleep quality, so add blankets or turn on the fan as needed.

Relieve stress before bed

You’ve changed up your bedroom, now it’s time to change your routine. Pent up stress and lack of sleep can lead you to make some unhealthy choices. To get started, avoid caffeine later in the day and cut back on alcohol, as both of these can worsen your quality of sleep.

For stress relief, physical activity is a great option! Exercising in the evening can help relieve built up tension in the body, and yoga or meditation are great ways to practice mindfulness and focus on yourself rather than your stressors. For a low-impact way to relieve stress, try gentle breathing techniques. There are a number of different techniques to use, and these can also help alleviate anxiety.

You should always seek medical attention if you experience serious sleep problems, but your restlessness might be resolved with changes to your environment and routine. If counting sheep isn’t doing it for you, try out these tips to help improve your sleep and health tonight!

Staying Healthy this Winter

Courtney Dietz — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Staying Healthy this Winter

Coco Dietz

With the winter in full blast all the germs are thriving and sickness is running rampant. Trying to stay healthy this time of the year is a particular challenge. But hopefully with our health tips you will stay happy and healthy this winter to spend more time doing what you love with the people you love!

Wash Your Hands, Often

Washing your hands thoroughly and often is key to preventing sickness from spreading. How many times a day do you absentmindedly go about your day and touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands? That allows the germs the highway into your immune system that they are looking for. Wash those hands and wash them often to get that sickness as far away from you as possible.

Clean, clean, CLEAN

Some germs can stay alive on a surface for up to eight hours, that is why it is imperative to clean those surfaces, especially those that have been in contact with potentially contaminated objects. Clean them thoroughly and clean them often to prevent the spread of those unwanted germs. Consider cleaning with vinegar to help further that sanitization process. Another cleaning tip to try is cleaning with heat; heat kills the bacteria and can help eliminate the potential of that sickness spreading.

Help your body do what it does best

Our bodies are very good at fighting off unwanted bacteria if we give them the best fighting chance we can. So here are some ways to help boost your immune system. Bump up that vitamin intake, whether it is through orange juice or supplements–help get those healthy vitamins in your body to keep it strong. Make sure you are getting enough rest as well. Get good sleep so your body has all the tools it needs to keep that sickness as far away from you as possible!

Keeping away the Winter Blues

Courtney Dietz — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Keeping Away the Winter Blues

Coco Dietz

With the stress of the winter holidays behind us and as we move into the longer parts of winter, many people may begin to struggle with being chronically down. Seasonal depression is something that is completely natural as most people are outside less, getting less vitamin D from the sunshine and have less activities happening, as most people do not want to brave the fierce winter weather. So here are some ways to help keep away those winter blues and keep your mental health a priority!

Make time for the activities you love

Although you might not be able to do all of the activities that you enjoy, making time for things that drive you and make you excited is imperative to keeping that smile on your face. Make it a priority to set time aside to do the hobbies and fun things that you and your loved ones enjoy. Along that thought, invite over those friends that you have been thinking about and keep forgetting to contact–give them a call or invite them over for a game night! Make time for the things that you love doing as well as the people whose company you enjoy.

Exercise Often

You might be one of the thousands of Americans that put going to the gym or working on it as their New Years Resolution. Do your best to keep up that momentum to exercise this year! Not only will it improve your physical health but it will help assist your mental health as well. Keeping those endorphins up this winter will help fight off those winter blues.

Write it all Down

Consider starting a journal this year. Although this can seem like a daunting task, having a safe space to store all of those difficult emotions and things that can be hard to share can be exceptionally beneficial to your mind that is tormented with all these feelings. A journal does not need to be this pretty, Pinterest-ready space. It can be a space for just your eyes where you allow all those feelings to simply be what they are and accept them as they come your way.