benefits of a good night’s sleep

I regularly preach the benefits of a good night’s sleep for helping your muscles repair themselves. But did you know that a solid night’s sleep can also sharpen your mind and lift your spirits? Getting enough zzz’s helps you concentrate during the day and even improves your ability to learn. This is because the more sleep you get, the more minutes your brain spends in the rapid eye movement (REM) phase. And REM sleep is crucial for cementing new information into long- and short-term memory. According to research, it’s during REM sleep that we file away everything we learn. A good night’s sleep is as important to your overall health as regular exercise and a healthy diet. But what if you have trouble falling asleep at night, tossing and turning with worrisome thoughts that keep you awake? Try this little trick: Lie on your back and concentrate on breathing deeply 10 times, slowing each breath you take. Then lie on your right side and breathe deeply 15 times. Finally, move to your left side and breathe deeply 20 times… if you don’t fall asleep before then, that is!