Number 1 Way To Optimum Health And Beauty!

Beauty and health are connected. While one has to do with mental and physical health, the other has to do with how you look.  Sleep is the number one (and most underrated) portal to optimum health. Your body repairs itself while you sleep leading to many beauty benefits. It almost sounds too simple right??! Snooze your way to better health?! Yes, please! And it's true! Making sure you are getting enough sleep is the first step but then, even more importantly - making sure you are getting QUALITY shut-eye- this is where the magic lies! Read on for my best tips for optimum shut-eye.

WHY GETTING ENOUGH SHUT EYE IS SO IMPORTANT:

·      Research has shown quality sleep can lead to reduced signs of skin ageing, fewer wrinkles and a glowing complexion

·     Lack of sleep can cause long-term mental and emotional health implications due to an excess of cortisol in the bloodstream

·         It can help alleviate stress levels

·        Supports maintaining vital and positive energy

·        Gives you the best chance at a rocking libido

·        Prevents disease including heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes

·        Works well in managing mental illness including depression and anxiety

3 TIPS FOR WINDING DOWN:

·   Create a sanctuary for yourself and create some mindful rituals. When you arrive home from a day of work let yourself relax. Get comfy, keep the lights dimmed, create ambience with candles and place some relaxing essential oils in a diffuser to set the tone. Take a nice hot bath with a dreamy bath soak to destress the mind and body or take a hot shower and drop a few drops of Lavender pure essential oil on the floor and breathe deeply then wear all white when you get out, you’ll instantly feel lighter and brighter and feel yourself physically, emotionally and mentally unwind.

·   Create a sacred hour before bed where you take time to do something for yourself that is relaxing and chill. Honour this time. Keep negativity to a minimum, this means know thyself…. If you know social media, blue light from the screen or emails are going to set you into a spin then set a time limit to this activity and do it in the early hours of the evening, if at all. Then or instead, try reading a feel good, mindful or uplifting book, or, begin a journal for dumping thoughts, emotions and ideas. Don’t read it back just use it to creatively express yourself and all that runs through the mind at the time. Dump, dump, dump and let it all go.

·   Meditate using Left Nostril breathing. This activates our Ida energy, our Moon energy. The moon energy is reflective, calm and cooling. Sit in a comfortable position with the spine straight. Place the left-hand palm up on the left knee. Lift your right hand to the nose, with your fingers outstretched, gently block of your right nostril with your thumb. Breathe in through the Left nostril for a count of 4 and exhale out through the left nostril for a count of 4. Try this exercise for 3 minutes then see if you can build to 11 mins. This Meditation will encourage deep and full relaxation for a better night’s sleep. You’ll also feel clearer and focused.

You can also use pure essential oils including:

·       Rose Geranium- Good for gently balancing and uplifting the emotions to create a sense of security, comfort and calm strength.

·       Eucalyptus- expansive, renewing and soothing all at the same time. Eucalyptus gives us a sense of room to breathe and openness, especially if one is feeling constricted.

·   Petitgrain- Balancing, restoring and clarifying. Petitgrain is fresh, uplifting and emotionally comforting. Traditionally used to help stabilize nerves, stress, anxieties and insomnia.

If you're getting less than 6 hours, its likely affecting your appearance, says Michael Breus, PhD, a board-certified sleep specialist. He recommends getting 1 to 3 more hours of sleep to benefit from improvements in as little as a day. Keep it up and within 2-3 weeks, people will notice you're sleeping better by the way you look, he says.