Monthly Archives: February 2016

ayurveda, blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, stress reduction, Uncategorized

Increase Your Happiness and Productivity with Better Sleep

Did you know that sleep is one of the three pillars of Ayurveda? Along with eating and sex, sleep is considered one of the most important aspects of health and wellbeing.

Many scientific studies have shown that good, consistent sleep is vital to overall health and wellbeing. If you’re not sleeping well, eventually it will take a toll on your body and you will begin to manifest disease.

Today, let’s look at some of the main reasons people in the 21st century aren’t getting enough quality sleep, and what you can do to improve your chances of getting a great night’s rest.

Blame it on Technology Habits

These days, we have a lot of exciting technology around us all the time: advanced computers, smart phones and more television programming available 24 hours a day than you could imagine! If you are having trouble going to sleep or falling asleep, taking a look at your technology usage (particularly at night) is very important.

Does your phone tweet, bing, dingle or twinkle at you while you’re trying to sleep? Do you stare at a blue screen within several hours of hitting the pillow? These two habits alone can make a huge difference in your ability to go to sleep and stay asleep.

Make sure to avoid using screens a couple hours before bed, and turn your phone to silent before you go to sleep to avoid being woken up by email dings.

Blame it on Time Zone Changes

If you travel to multiple time zones during the week, you may have difficulty falling into a restful sleep pattern. For instance, if you’re on the East Coast for the first part of the week, then the central part of the country, and finally on the West Coast – well, that can be a big problem!

You may not be able to correct the fact that you have to travel, but you can do things to help you sleep better.

The cells in the body work on a 24-hour clock. Naturally, we’re programmed to be awake when it’s light out and asleep when it’s dark out. If you are traveling to multiple time zones, you must immediately adjust to the time zone in which you will be sleeping that night.

For instance, if you live on the West Coast and you’re visiting the East Coast, the clock will read 6 pm ET when your body thinks it’s 3 pm PT. Fall in line with the reading on the clock. Make your routine as regular as possible for the new time zone. If you normally eat dinner at 6 pm PT, eat it at 6 pm in whatever time zone you’ll be sleeping.

Your body will synch up and within a day or a day and a half it will adjust to that zone. It can be challenging, depending on your schedule, but it’s not impossible.

Blame it on the Alcohol Consumption

Many people use alcohol to try and fall asleep. It’s true that alcohol has a sedative quality that makes you fall asleep more easily, but studies have shown that drinking before bed interrupts sleep patterns significantly. With alcohol in your blood stream, you’ll wake up in the moments when your sleep cycle is changing.

This is exactly why people wake up after a night of drinking – even if they get a nice long sleep – still feeling groggy.

The Best Sleep Habits

To get the best night’s rest, try this routine about two hours before bedtime: turn off all electronics, dim the lights in the bedroom and listen to some relaxing music. Take a nice hot shower or bath and maybe even diffuse a little bit of lavender essential oil.

The most important thing you can do to help you get better sleep is create healthy habits that promote relaxation and address the root causes of insomnia, if any.

Would you like to connect with me one-on-one to find personalized ways of getting better sleep? Click HERE [Contact Page] to set up a time to speak with me privately. I work with clients to help them reach their greatest health potential, naturally and healthfully.

Also, please pick up your free gifts here: www.gifts4free.com

Namaste,

Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS

The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect Sin título

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blissful living, health and wellness, healthy eating, healthy living, Uncategorized

Boost Your Immune System During Cold and Flu Season

The winter months are notorious for heralding the cold and flu season: more viruses are floating around, we spend time with other people who are sick, and there’s a big push for people to get the flu shot (of which I am not a fan). This is why it’s a great time of year to talk about what’s needed to build a healthy immune system.

The flu shot is not your only option to avoid contracting a virus this season. There are some fantastic and very powerful natural and healthy ways to boost your immune system so you don’t have to do any of the things that are pushed on us by the medical and pharmaceutical industry.

Follow these tips to stay really healthy and vibrant during this busy season!

Tip #1: Wash Your Hands

Washing your hands with anti-bacterial soap and water for 10-15 seconds – not using hand sanitizer – is the best thing you can do to prevent getting a cold or the flu.

Along these lines, avoid touching your mouth, eyes or any other place where a virus can enter your system easily before you have washed your hands well.

Even if you already wash your hands frequently, make a point to do it more often, and be sure to wash hard-to-reach places, like below the fingernails, where bacteria thrive.

Tip #2: Take Zinc with Vitamin C

Zinc is a trace mineral found in every tissue of the body and important for cell division. When most people have their Zinc levels tested they find out that they are low. I suggest a combination of Zinc and Vitamin C to keep the body working at an optimum level.

Another way to keep Zinc levels healthy is to add a multi-vitamin to your daily routine. Doctors don’t necessarily endorse vitamins, though they know how important they are (doctors often would rather push a pharmaceutical drug).

Tip #3: Take a Multi-Vitamin

A multi-vitamin is a really great option because even if you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, it can be difficult to get all the nutrients you need. Choose a good multi-vitamin that contains Vitamins C, A and all the B complexes. Add a bit of Magnesium and an Omega-3 supplement as well to give your body a complete boost.

Tip #4: Add Some Good Bacteria

The bacteria in the tummy are very important in order for your immune system to function properly. It’s natural to have good bacteria inhabit the stomach, and in fact, you want the “good” bacteria to outnumber the “bad” bacteria.

Add yogurt to your diet to increase the bacteria in your stomach. I also recommend a drink called Yakult, which contains good bacteria. The drink has live cultures in it, the bits of goodness that your body really likes.

Tip #5: Take in More Fiber

I can’t say enough about fiber! Fiber is so beneficial for the overall health of the immune system that we should all be eating more of it. It’s easy to do: just increase the leafy greens you consume on a day-to-day basis. You’ll get the extra vitamins and minerals from the vegetables and you’ll receive detoxifying benefits as well.

When you eat more fiber, you keep your colon cleansed so dangerous toxins don’t build up and get into your bloodstream.

Tip #6: Clean the Air

Essential oils like Wintergreen, Peppermint or Cedar wood will actually act as an air purifier when you diffuse them into the air, potentially eliminating the bacteria that may be floating in your home (say, from someone who sneezed without covering his or her mouth and nose).

Tip #7: Good a Good Night’s Rest Every Night

Americans in particular tend to underestimate how important it is for the body to get a good night of rest, every single night. Even losing a few hours once a week will affect how your immune system functions.

This season, if you take on these seven tips you will see great improvement of your immune system and very likely avoid contracting any viruses that may be floating around your space!

Are you looking for more ways to improve your health without resorting to pharmaceutical drugs? Click HERE [LINK: Free Gifts from Rochele] to learn some of my top ways to naturally increase your health and vitality!

 

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