TresSugar

The How-To Lounge: Turning Around a Bad Day

DearSugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:00:00 -0700

We have all woken up on the wrong side of the bed, I'm sure more than once, but instead of giving into a bad day, here are some tips on how to re-start your morning.

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Don't snooze your alarm clock. In my opinion, snoozing makes you lazy for the rest of the day. It also can add a level of stress to your morning routine if those extra 10 minutes in bed made you late for work.
As soon as your alarm goes off, mentally plan out your morning and try to do something nice for yourself. Stop to get coffee and your favorite muffin if you are already dreading the morning. Giving yourself something to look forward to will lessen the sting of your bad day.
Hydrate. Our bodies wake up dehydrated, which can cause fatigue and effect your mood, so drink a couple glasses of water as soon as you wake up to jump start your morning.
If you wake up grumpy, exercise. If you don't have time for a full fledged gym workout, take a quick walk around the block, do some sit ups or push ups at home, do a quick exercise video, anything to get your heart pumping so you can reduce tension and increase your energy level.
If you woke up thinking about something specific, don't dwell on it. Get to the root of the problem and if you can, deal with it head on so you don't wake up the next day on the wrong side of the bed too.
Have a sense of humor about it. Sometimes when it rains, it pours, so try to laugh at yourself. When I have a really bad morning, I usually call a friend and make light of just how miserable my morning was so I can get it out and just have a laugh at it. Give it a try and see if it works for you!

These are my methods, do you have any?

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Do You Like Sleeping Alone or With Your Partner?

TresSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Attention spooners! It is now officially bad for your health to share your bed. According to British experts, when you share a bed with your partner and one of you moves in your sleep, there is a 50 percent chance that you will disturb the other person's sleep. And what happens when you don't get good sleep? Depression, heart disease, strokes, traffic accidents, lower productivity, and, perhaps, divorce!

Of course, one doctor (who sleeps in a different room than his wife) says if you sleep well together, there's no need to change. And I say - if you're used to sleeping with someone, the change might actually disturb your sleep too.

Does this news give you a welcome excuse to start sleeping in separate beds, or do you need the option to cuddle all night long?

Dear Poll: Do You Ever Sleep in the Nude?

DearSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:00:00 -0700

I love my pajama bottoms; they’re super comfy and they fit just right. But sometimes I wake up so overheated that I end up ripping them off in the middle of the night. When it comes to sleeping that’s about as bare as I get, so it always surprises me to hear about how much people love sleeping in the buff. So tell me ladies, are you a clothed sleeper like me or do you get your beauty sleep in your birthday suit?

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Sleep/Screw Pillowcase: Love It or Leave It?

TresSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:00:59 -0700

Not in the mood to get it on? Say it with sheets! These Screw Me, Silly/Dream On . . . Pillowcases ($24) from Etsy seller Crumbsonthesheets use fancy embroidery to communicate your true desires. I love that "screw me, silly" could be read as "screw me silly" without the comma. Either way, some nights, sleep wins.

Listen Up! Lack Of Sleep Hits Women Harder

TresSugar — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Hey ladies - do you need a new excuse to get your recommended eight hours of sleep? New research shows that a lack of sleep raises a woman's risk of heart disease more than it does for a man.

The study even showed a significant increase in risk factors among women who get seven hours compared to those who get eight.

Whether due to their careers, families, or bustling social lives, women often find the goal of eight hours of sleep elusive. I'll admit that I regularly make up for a loss of shut-eye with an extra cup of coffee. What about you - are you able to find the time to make sleep - and your health -a priority?

Photo by Miss Gong & The Flickers

The French Sleep and Eat Better Than Anyone

TresSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:15:00 -0700

In addition to producing great literature and perfume, the French can now boast that they they also have the most sated sleepers and eaters. Among the world's wealthiest nations, France has a populace that sleeps and eats longer than anyone, including Spaniards, Italians, and Americans.

The average French person sleeps almost nine hours every night, and more than two hours a day are spent eating. Wow. Maybe if I eat a lot of amazingly stinky cheese with bread and red wine (slowly, of course), I can catch up on my zzzzz's!

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Having Trouble Sleeping? Your Partner Could Be to Blame

DearSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:00:00 -0800

Getting a good night's sleep doesn't come easily for all, especially if you sleep next to a bed hog or a snorer, but new research shows that the remedy for catching those much needed zzz's is sleeping next to the right partner.

A study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh discovered that women who are happily married or coupled up have less trouble sleeping than their single, unattached peers; and you might be surprised to know that caffeine, the amount of sex they had, stress, and alcohol consumption had little impact on this study. Wendy Troxel, an associate professor of psychiatry who worked on this study, explained:

The results showed that even after taking into account all of these factors that are known to influence sleep, the level of marital happiness emerged as an independent risk factor for the existence of sleep disturbances.

Whatever your relationship status may be, tell me, do these findings ring true to you?

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The How-To Lounge: Catching up on Sleep

DearSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:00:00 -0700

It seems like every week I’m playing catch-up on sleep from the previous weekend. In fact, until I actually make a mental note to chill out, relax, and get in some extra Zs, I just keep getting more and more run-down. And I know I’m not alone, so I want to share some of my tricks with those of you who are in desperate need of more sleep. To see them, just read more.

First of all, when it comes to rest, it’s all about quality over quantity. So if you only got six hours of sleep, getting 10 hours of sleep the next night is not the equivalent of two eight-hour nights. It’s far more important that the sleep you do get is deep and regenerative, so pull down the shades and turn off your phone!
With that in mind, when you do try to catch up on lost sleep by sleeping in, you’re actually confusing your body's natural sleep pattern, which is why you can end up more tired when you get up later. I love sleeping in too, but if you really want to catch up, then you have to avoid it.
Instead, try taking a power nap later on that day. Usually you only need 20 to 40 minutes to feel refreshed. Again, much longer and you might end up feeling more groggy than energized.
Rest is better than nothing. Even if you can’t fall asleep for a nap, lie down for 30 minutes; it will give your muscles and your mind a chance to relax.
I've heard contradictory thoughts about whether or not you should just get up and walk around when you're having a difficult time falling asleep. Lying in bed feeling frustrated about not being able to sleep can make you anxious and keep you from relaxing. I think it's best to get up, but avoid any stimulating activities.

There's nothing as emotionally draining as losing too much sleep, but instead of getting flustered, keep these tips in mind and know that your body will naturally compensate over time.

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Pillow Talk: How Well Do You Sleep With Your Partner?

DearSugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:01:00 -0800

Falling asleep next to your partner or feeling them next to you in the middle of the night can be a comforting and reassuring experience. There's something deeply intimate about listening to their breathing, cuddling for warmth, or sweetly and lightly touching in the dark. However, while sleeping with your partner might be great for your sex life, it may not be good for your sleep patterns.

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Believe it or not, a British study found that couples actually sleep better when they are alone. After conducting a study using 56 volunteers for two nights, they found that each partner had a more restful night's sleep on the night when they slept alone. In a previous study, they also discovered that one's partner triggers one-third of the 20 to 60 discrete movements made during the course of a typical night's sleep.

If you sleep beside someone who snores, this information is hardly surprising, I'm sure. Now consider that 70% of Americans don't get enough sleep. That's a lot of tired people driving down the road, flying airplanes, or managing your money! Some experts believe that sleep is more important to your body than diet and exercise. For more information on how sleep -- or the lack of it -- effects you, click here.

Could it be you might actually need another bedroom?

According to a 2005 National Sleep Foundation survey, 23 percent of partnered adults frequently sleep solo because of their loved one's snoring, kicking or other sleep problem. That number doesn't include those who bed down apart because of mismatched schedules or desire for different room temperatures, or to let an exhausted spouse avoid a tyke's wake-up calls. And though a small number of couples who opt for separate beds do so to recapture a sense of romance, for most, there's one simple fantasy: some decent rest.

Still, despite the sleep deprivation or exhaustion, most of us wouldn't give up sleeping with the one we love. According to Francesca Pankhurst, a researcher at the University of Brighton, and Jim Horne, a researcher at Loughborough University, the emotional benefits of sleeping beside a loved one far outweigh any side effects we might experience by not getting a good night's sleep.

Psychologically, people probably think they're more at rest, relaxed, and peaceful. Maybe they think that being disturbed by their partner is reassuring because they know some one's there.

And because we're here to help, click here for some helpful tips about getting a better night's sleep. Sweet dreams!

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The How-To Lounge: A Better Night's Sleep

DearSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Our bedrooms are a more important place than we tend to give them credit for - they’re where we completely rejuvenate ourselves for the next day, night after night. While I’m not of the mindset that your bedroom needs to be some kind of untouched sanctuary, I do think that a few touches in or around your bed can do a lot for a good night’s sleep. And, I know if I don’t get enough sleep, I’m an emotional wreck so if you want to see how to create the perfect sleeping spot, just read more.

Mattresses can be really expensive, but having a good one can not only affect your sleeping habits, but also your physical health from your neck to your toes.
A great set of sheets and plush comforter goes a long way when it comes to feeling cozy in bed. You don’t need 1000-thread count either, just pick something well made that feels good to the touch. As for the comforter, I personally love a down comforter with a soft duvet cover, but that much fluff can be overwhelming, so choose a light quilt if that better suits you.
Temperature is a huge issue for many women when trying to fall or stay asleep. Over the course of a night our internal thermostat can fluctuate from chills to hot flashes, making deep sleep seem impossible. Combat this issue by keeping a fan in your room and an extra blanket at the food of your bed.
Creating a relaxing atmosphere will definitely help get you in the mood to sleep. Buy a more muted lightbulb for your bedside lamp, and try to keep the floor around your bed completely cleared away.
Create a ritual you can do every night to get your mind and body ready for sleep. Whether it’s watching TV, reading a book, or getting in some intimate time with your partner, come up with something that will trigger the sleep response from your body.

If these tips still don't help or if you think you might have insomnia be sure to see your doctor to discuss some possible solutions. Sleep is important so take it seriously!

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