Why Can’t I Sleep During a Full Moon: Spiritual Meaning and Scientific Explanations

UncategorisedMarch 20, 2023April 18, 2023

Why Can’t I Sleep During a Full Moon? Spiritual Meaning

Have you ever experienced difficulty sleeping during a full moon? It’s not uncommon to feel restless or have trouble falling asleep when the moon is at its fullest.

While many people attribute this phenomenon to spiritual or mystical reasons, there are also scientific explanations for why a full moon might interfere with our sleep.

Spiritual Meaning of Not Sleeping During a Full Moon

In spiritual and metaphysical circles, the full moon is believed to be a time of heightened energy and spiritual activity.

In some ways, it may be a good time to get productive & make positive changes with your life, although we always encourage you to try and get your rest.

Some people believe that the moon’s energy can affect our own energy and emotions, causing restlessness, anxiety, or even insomnia.

Others believe that a full moon is a time of release and purification, and that our bodies may be trying to release negative energy or emotions during this time.

This is partly due to the idea that the moon keeping you awake means that your past is trying to haunt you, meaning that you need to look deep inside to help you heal & forgive yourself for any past traumas & events.

Scientific Explanations for Not Sleeping During a Full Moon

While the spiritual explanations for not sleeping during a full moon are intriguing, there are also scientific reasons why the moon might interfere with our sleep.

One theory is that the moon’s bright light can affect our circadian rhythm, which is the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

When the moon is full, its reflection of sunlight can be strong enough to trick our bodies into thinking it’s daytime, which can interfere with our production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates our sleep.

What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, which helps to regulate our sleep-wake cycle.

Melatonin production is stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light, so when we’re exposed to bright light (like the light from a full moon), it can interfere with our natural melatonin production and make it harder to fall & stay asleep.

Another scientific explanation for why the full moon might affect our sleep has to do with blue light.

Blue light is a type of light that is emitted by electronic devices like smartphones and tablets, as well as by some light bulbs.

Exposure to blue light at night can interfere with our production of melatonin and disrupt our sleep.

When the moon is full, it reflects more blue light than usual, which could contribute to our difficulty sleeping.

Tips for Better Sleep During a Full Moon

If you’re struggling to sleep during a full moon, there are a few things you can try to improve your sleep quality:

Use a 3D Sleep Mask to block out any excess light that might be coming in through your windows.
Make sure your blinds are fully shut to block out any moonlight.
Take supplements like magnesium glycinate, which can help promote natural melatonin production and improve sleep quality.
Try a magnesium flake bath or a lavender epsom salt bath before bed, as both can help promote relaxation and better sleep.
Keep your room cool (around 18.3 degrees Celsuis) to help you stay in a deeper sleep.
Use Sleep Patches to help keep you in a deeper sleep while it is a full moon.

In conclusion, while the full moon has long been associated with mystery and mysticism, there are also scientific reasons why it might interfere with our sleep.

Whether you choose to approach the full moon from a spiritual or a scientific perspective, the important thing is to take care of yourself and prioritise getting the rest you need to feel your best.

Sleep Death Calculator

UncategorisedMarch 18, 2023July 4, 2023

When Will I die? Find out Using our Sleep Death Calculator

Do you know that your sleeping habits could impact your lifespan?

That’s right, how much sleep you get each night plays a vital role in determining your health and longevity.

To help you understand the importance of sleep, we have created a death calculator (for fun), that considers how many hours of sleep you get each night and provides an estimate of when you may pass away related to scientific data.

But don’t worry, we’re not here to scare you. Instead, we want to help you take your sleep more seriously with the aim to try and help you decide to improve your overall health.

Sleep Death Calculator

Death Estimation Calculator Based on Sleep Habits

Gender	Age	Hours of Sleep

Is it Time to Make Changes to My Sleep?

Look, whatever the outcome of the calculator, there is an opportunity for most of us to make some minor changes to our sleeping habits, for a happier & healthier lifestyle.

If you’re someone who saunters to bed slowly after a shower, to then scroll on their phone aimlessly, you may be able to take something away from this. Many of us don’t take bedtime seriously, but there always enough time for us to make changes.

What Can I Do to Improve My Sleep Habits?

Are you struggling to fall asleep or find yourself waking up feeling tired? Here are some tips to help improve your sleep habits:

Fix your sleep schedule: Try to establish a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
Get to sleep faster: Establish a relaxing bedtime routine and avoid using electronic devices or consuming caffeine close to bedtime. You could also try natural remedies such as chamomile tea or lavender essential oils to help you relax.
What not to do before going to sleep: Avoid eating heavy meals or exercising vigorously before bedtime. Additionally, it’s best to avoid alcohol and nicotine before bedtime as they can disrupt your sleep.
Is it better to sleep naked? While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, sleeping naked could help regulate your body temperature and improve your sleep quality. The take away here would be that it is important to try and sleep in a cool environment, for optimal sleep levels.

To create a relaxing sleep environment, you could try taking a warm bath with aromatherapy candles, make your bed more enjoyable by using a silk pillowcase, dim the lights to help you unwind and prepare for sleep.

Supplements for Sleep

There are so many options to try that may be able to help improve your sleep routine. There are supplements options to get you more relaxed and relieve those racing thoughts & there are some that directly help you improve your sleep quality.

If you’re looking for natural supplements to improve your sleep, there are several alternatives to melatonin that are available on the market ranging from 5HTP, L-theanine, Glycine, Lavender & Magnesium flakes (that can be used in your bath routine!).

How does lavender help you sleep? Lavender is an ancient plant that has been used for 1000’s of years, as a natural element for sleep improvement.

Additionally, magnesium has been found to have calming effects that could help you sleep better, the best form for this would be Magnesium glycinate.

Sleep Patches and Calming Patches that contain natural plant elements are also becoming increasingly popular, for their ability to deliver natural ingredients to the body that contain relaxing sleep properties.

Summary

Get researching, become self aware! Try to notice all of those little unnecessary habits that you have that could be impacting your sleep amount & sleep quality.

It’s time to look into the best supplementation that may be best for you & it’s time to start prioritising your selfcare.

Make those adjustments to help you prime yourself for sleep, read a book instead of being on your phone, meditate instead of playing a game, make sure you stop your working schedule from eating into your evening time.

The best time to start is today, you won’t regret it.

World Sleep Day – 15th March 2024

UncategorisedMarch 5, 2023April 22, 2023

What is World Sleep Day?

World Sleep Day is an annual occurrence where the World Sleep Society call for us to prioritise sleep health and raise awareness of the health benefits of sleep.

This day is a celebration of all things sleep including raising awareness about the dangers of sleep deprivation, promoting new medical research around sleep, educating people about the importance of sleep and how to prevent sleep disorders.

Each year there is a theme to World Sleep Day and this year the theme is SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTH.

Who started World Sleep Day?

The first World Sleep Day was thought up by medical professionals and healthcare providers working and researching the topic of sleep.

The aim was to bring professionals who worked within this field together to share information, discuss new research and share knowledge about sleep with a view to improving sleep healthcare awareness and reducing preventable sleep disorders.

World Sleep Day is promoted by the World Sleep Society which was founded by members of the World Association of Sleep Medicine and World Sleep Federation.

What can I do for World Sleep Day?

The best thing you can do for World Sleep Day is to raise awareness about this important initiative and inspire the people around you to do more to promote good sleep health.

You can do this by sharing the hashtag #WorldSleepDay with your social networks, organising a sleep awareness activity in your local area or making a personal commitment to do more to improve your own sleep health and that of your immediate loved ones.

What can I do for World Sleep Day?

The team at ZLEEPY® are passionate about all things sleep. We think we’re pretty in-the-know about sleep health, looking after our wellbeing and staying as zen as possible. However, in honour of World Sleep Day this year, we have all committed to fixing our sleep schedules.

Sleep loves routine. Fixing our sleep schedules involves a commitment to trying to go to bed at the same time each night, waking at the same time each morning and aiming for that coveted 7-9 hours sleep each night. For some of us this should be fairly easy, but others might struggle…

You can find more information on how to fix your sleep schedule so that you can enjoy better sleep!

(In addition to this we’re offering an extra 10% off all ZLEEPY® products using the World Sleep Day code ZWSD23 for orders made on our sleep health produces made from now until midnight on 30th March to spread the good world about the message SLEEP IS ESSENTIAL FOR HEALTH.

How Many Calories Do You Burn from Sleeping?

UncategorisedMarch 5, 2023January 18, 2024

Does Sleeping Burn Calories?

We burn calories all the time, including whilst we’re asleep. So long as our body and brain are functioning, we need energy to supply them with the power they need to perform essential duties, such as breathing, digestion, repairs and maintenance, and movement.

The number of calories we burn whilst we’re awake is higher than when we’re asleep, as you’d expect, because typically we’re more active during the day.

The number of calories we burn depends on our gender, age, weight and metabolism. Taller and larger people need more calories to function and people who have more muscle mass will have a higher metabolic rate as muscle burns more calories than fat.

Another factor that will affect how many calories you burn is gender. Men tend to have more muscle mass than women so therefore burn more calories. Genetics and race may also play a part in metabolic function, as will hormonal changes such as pregnancy and menopause.

Children will burn more calories as they grow but their metabolic rate will slow down as they mature.

Basal Metabolic Rate

Your basal metabolic rate or BMR, is your baseline metabolic rate. It is the measure of how much energy you need to perform essential functions such as breathing, movement and circulation. Your BMR accounts for approximately 80% of the total number of calories you burn each day.

In order to accurately measure your BMR rate you’d need to spend some time in a laboratory, fast for a certain amount of time, skip your workout and get at least 8 hours of sleep. This isn’t viable for most people.

Luckily for us there is a calculation you can use to work out your BMR. The following equation is called the Harris-Benedict Equation and uses your sex, weight, height and age to calculate your BMR and gives the total number of calories burned across 24 hours.

For males:
BMR = 66.5 + (13.8 x weight in kg) + (5 x height in cm) – (6.8 x age in years)

For females:
BMR = 655 + (9.6 x weight in kg) + (1.8 x height in cm) – (4.7 x age in years)

How to work out how many calories you burn in your sleep

It is thought that we burn around 50 calories per hour during sleep, although this may be more for some and less for others.

To work out approximately how many calories you burn during sleep, use the equation above to work out your BMR for 24 hours, then divide your BMR by 24 and multiple it by 0.85. This takes into account your lower metabolic rate during sleeping and should give you a fairly accurate calculation of how many calories you burn when you’re asleep.

Simple, right?

<h2></h2>Calories Burned While Sleeping Calculator</h2>

Calories Burned While Sleeping Calculator

Can I burn more calories by sleeping less?

Following your maths session, you might stop to think so if I sleep less, I can burn more calories.

Sleep deprivation IS NOT a good idea. In theory as we burn more calories awake then calories burned sleeping, logic would dictate that skipping sleep would allow us to burn more calories, right? WRONG.

Lack of sleep leads to all kinds of other problems, such as lack of concentration, craving sugary foods which increases calorie intake, physical fatigue and mood swings. Prolonged sleep deprivation can cause major health problems and make you more susceptible to illness and diseases.

Top tips for improving your sleep quality

• Maintain a healthy diet – don’t consume more calories than you burn to keep a healthy weight for your size.

• Exercise regularly – being active will burn more calories, help build muscle mass and ensure you feel tired at nighttime, which will make falling asleep quicker and easier.

• Avoid devices before bed – the blue light emitted by screens can inhibit our melatonin production, which can affect our ability to feel tired at night.

• Fix your sleep schedule – studies have shown that going to sleep and waking at the same time will help your body know when to be awake and when to feel sleepy, ensuring you get the recommended 7-9 hours sleep a night.

For more information you can read our post on how to fix your sleep schedule.

• Avoid stimulants before bed – caffeine, nicotine and alcohol can all affect your ability to get to sleep. Try to avoid these close to bedtime and opt for a hot, milk drink instead.

For even more insightful information on improving your sleep quality, find out what not to do before going to sleep & start achieving better sleep tonight!

What your pillowcase says about you

UncategorisedFebruary 12, 2023February 23, 2023

What does your pillowcase say about you?

Have you ever stopped to think about what your pillowcase might say about you? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve taken a deep dive into the world of pillowcases and what each colour and pattern says about the person who sleeps on it.

From classic solid colours to quirky patterns, your pillowcase is a reflection of your personality, and we’re here to decode it for you.

Solid White Pillowcase

If you stick to a classic solid white pillowcase, you’re someone who values simplicity and cleanliness. You’re quite organised, disciplined, and prefer a clean and uncluttered environment.

It’s not uncommon for you to fill your room with beautiful scents by using linen sprays, only after you’ve made your bed to your particular specifications. You’re also a great communicator, people find you easy to talk to!

But beware, too much of a good thing can become monotonous, so don’t be afraid to mix things up with a pop of colour in your life every now and then!

Solid Black Pillowcase

If you’re a fan of a solid black pillowcase, you’re someone who is confident and bold. You’re not afraid to stand out and make a statement, and you’re not one to shy away from a challenge.

You’re a natural leader deep down & you’re not afraid to work hard & get your hands dirty… others look up to you. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility, so use your influence for good!

Bold, Bright Colours

If you love bold, bright pillowcases, you’re someone who’s full of life and energy. You’re never afraid to be unique, and you’re constantly good vibes by always being up for a good time with your friends… but you do need to recharge your batteries after these fun outbursts.

You’re a reliable friend, always there to make people laugh and lift their spirits. You don’t always let your zest for life turn into impulsiveness, you stay grounded and make smart decisions when you need to.

Silk Pillowcase

If you’re an avid user of silk pillowcases, whether that be a grey silk pillowcase or a white silk pillowcase, you’re someone who prioritises your bedtime routine like a ritual! To make sure that you get a restful night’s sleep. It’s not uncommon for your to create a relaxing atmosphere with aromatherapy candles, calming music, and other sleep-promoting elements to put you in your zen.

You’re also someone who is conscious about enjoying the finer things in life, from glasses of wine to spa days.

You use silk pillowcases alongside a vigorous skincare routine. On those super busy days when you’re unable to complete your normal routine, you feel ‘unsettled’ for the rest of the day. You can’t wait to get back to your regiment tomorrow, one day out of routine is enough!

Pastel Coloured Pillowcase

If you’re into pastel pillowcases, you’re someone who’s soft-spoken and gentle. You’re a great listener, people come to you for advice and comfort.

You’re a creative and have a natural passion for the arts. Don’t let your kindness be taken advantage of, remember to put yourself first every now and then as you enjoy your own company.

Floral Patterns

Your floral pillowcase means that you’re someone who’s nurturing and kind-hearted. You probably have a green thumb and a small obsession of shopping for new houseplants.

You’re also a great listener while sharing a pot of tea or coffee, while being someone you can trust. Your friends just let you be your fun-loving self & accept you for who you are.

Bamboo Pillowcase

If you’re a fan of bamboo pillowcases, you’re someone who cares about the environment and wants to make positive choices. You appreciate natural materials and the positive impact they have on the environment, as you care for others.

You often have a strong love for animals & you can never have too many pets (even if you tried). You’re someone who prioritises comfort and understands the importance of a good night’s sleep & self care.

Bamboo pillowcases are not only environmentally friendly, but they’re also soft and silky, making them a great choice for a comfortable night’s sleep.

Abstract Patterns

If you’re a fan of abstract patterns, you’re likely someone who’s creative and thinks outside the box. You’re a great problem solver and always come up with unique solutions. You’re also open-minded person and embrace change.

You often spend a few hours of your week in coffee shops, while enjoying a latte with creamy oat milk. Don’t let your individuality turn into eccentricity, and remember to stay grounded and be a team player sometimes.

Striped or Checkered Pillowcase

If you’re a fan of stripes, you’re someone who’s organised and detail-oriented. You have a love for structure and order, and you’re always on top of your to-do list.

You’re a great multitasker and you’re able to handle multiple responsibilities at once. Just don’t let your love for order turn into rigidity, remember to be flexible and adapt to change to fit in some more fun into your environment!

Polka Dot Pillowcase

If you’re a fan of polka dots, you’re very playful and quirky. You’re probably always up for trying something new and are not afraid to be different. You’re a great friend to be around, always making people laugh and lightening the mood.

Geometric Patterns

If you’re a fan of geometric patterns, you’re someone who’s logical and analytical. You’re naturally a problem solver and have a great mind for maths and science. You’re also practical and down-to-earth.

Generally you like to follow each instruction of a manual precisely, never skipping an instruction as it hurts your brain to do so. Just don’t let your love for logic turn into coldness, and remember to show your emotions and connect with others.

Animal Prints

If you’re a fan of animal prints, you’re likely someone who’s wild and free-spirited. You’re adventurous and love to travel and explore new places.

As a person you’re confident and don’t shy away from taking risks. You naturally like to be different & stand out, it’s never been a conscious decision… it just happens.

Space or Galaxy Prints

If have space or galaxy prints, you’re someone who should probably be at school or doing homework, so you probably should click off this article!

King Sized Pillowcase

If you have a king-sized pillowcase, you really pay attention to every single detail in your life. No chore goes incomplete & you’re never off your feet. If it’s not planning your next meal for your family or friends, it’s making sure your house is in order.

Every once in a while (long while) at end of a long day, you are able to settle down with a glass of wine, a bath & a book.

You’re good at dealing with stress, but sometimes can’t wait to bury your head in your large pillow, to get your 7 hours of sleep to prepare to do it all again tomorrow.

There you have it!

So there you have it, what your pillowcase says about you. Who knew a simple piece of bedding could reveal so much about a person’s personality?

Whether you’re a fan of solid colours or quirky patterns, remember that the most important thing is to be true to yourself and embrace what makes you unique.

Now that you know what your pillowcase says about you, maybe it’s time to embrace a new colour & experience new things!

How does lavender help you sleep?

UncategorisedNovember 26, 2022April 18, 2023

How does lavender help you sleep?

The lavender plant is an amazing herb that has been used by humans for over 2500 years, for many different reasons. It has been used by the ancient Greeks for insomnia & by the ancient Egyptians to create relaxing massage oils & medicines.

What you’re wondering is; how does lavender help you sleep?

It is noted that lavender may have effects on the central nervous system of the body, which can aid with relaxation. This could be one of the reasons in which lavender may help with sleep.

There have been some studies relating to this topic, find out more information below on why lavender may help you sleep.

Where is lavender grown?

Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, as for its growth it needs lots of sun in abundance & a specific type of soil that drains quickly.

As of recent years, lavender is grown all around the world from places such as the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Africa & Asia.

Lavender farms are some of the most beautiful places in the world, as the fields are populated with a sea of purple on a green landscape.

The process of growing the plant for its oil has been adopted worldwide, as lavender is now used by many of society for its versatile nature. Some of those benefits stated previously, note lavender may be beneficial for sleep, insomnia, relaxation & for anxiety.

Why does lavender help you sleep?

As suggested earlier, lavender has shown to have potential effects on insomnia & sleep as a whole. The effects of lavender on the central nervous system may come from its relationship with the GABA receptors, where it modulates the GABAergic neurotransmission.

In this study, lavender was noted to be an excellent remedy for insomnia as it was able to improve the mean sleep score of fifteen healthy students.

If you use lavender at the same time every night, you are able to get your body accustomed to relaxing after smelling the scent. This is defined as a sleep scent trigger. What this means is that when you smell the lavender at night time, you can train your brain to switch off and prepare for sleep.

Over a longer period of time, it may be useful to use this technique every night in your sleep hygiene process, as a sleep scent trigger.

The brain is good at associating smells, so using this sleep training technique alongside a scent such as lavender (that already has relaxing capabilities), could prove to be a formidable trick to add to your sleep routine for improved sleep.

You can do this efficiently by using a lavender sleep spray or a essential oil spray. You can also use lavender epsom salt products for transdermal absorption as another method, for relaxation & improved sleep.

As well as using lavender as a sleep scent trigger, it is well known that the activation of the GABA receptors help promote sleep (as noted in this study), in which lavender can help activate.

When the GABA receptor is activated, it inhibits the central nervous system, which in turn has calming effects on the body, as it helps quieten nervous excitement within the brain. Sleep studies show that people who suffer with insomnia have GABA levels which can be up to 30% lower than those people who sleep restfully.

These effects on the GABA receptor are partly the reason in which lavender may help with anxiety within humans, which we will take a look into below.

Lavender for anxiety

The positive effects of lavender essential oils and anxiety have been shown due to its calming nature, because of the way it interacts the with central nervous system.

In one study, lavender was shown to have a calming affect without high sedation, while maintaining its tolerability in humans.

Due to the way lavender helps promote the GABA receptor activation (as noted above), this reaction can help reduce anxiety as the brain is sent into a calmed state, via its promotion of alpha brain waves.
Lavender is also noted to affect the human EEG pattern, which is the different types of sleep waves.

As someone goes to sleep into sleep stage 1, alpha waves are increased to induce sleep. By stage 3 the body goes into “slow wave sleep”. The lavender plant can promote the sleep waves ‘theta’ & ‘delta’, which help increase deep sleep.

How to use lavender oil for sleep

Inhalation of lavender molecules can be achieved through several different mechanisms including diffusers, electronic oil diffusers & aromatherapy candles. Another way in which lavender can be absorbed is orally, this isn’t classed as aromatherapy.

In ancient times, lavender would be rubbed onto a pillow to help aid with sleep. In modern society, it is more common to rub lavender essential oils onto a pillowcase instead of using an actual plant.

There are also sleep patches & lavender sleep spray products that contain lavender & other essential oils, to help aid the sleep process, all from one bottle as an alternative to melatonin.

into tranquility

Immerse yourself

into tranquility

Immerse yourself

Lavender Scented Candles for sleep

If you’re looking into a lavender scented candle to help aid with sleep, it may be good to know how they can help promote sleep. When an aromatherapy candle is lit, the lavender essential oil molecules evaporate into the room in which they can be inhaled.

Aromatherapy candles are also great to add to your sleep routine if you use them as a light source. Bright artificial lights in the evening can reduce the body’s natural production of melatonin, which is the bodies sleep hormone.

The light from a candle is so minimal that if it is used in the evening while you relaxing while reading a book or meditate, it can help prime you for sleep.

Artificial light contains a higher rate of 460-480nm wavelengths which disrupt sleep. A candle flame contains less blue light from these wavelengths, making it a more suitable light source for sleep promotion instead of artificial light.

See our candle FAQ for more information on maintaining your candles.

What lavender is edible?

The best type of lavender that is used in cooking for medicinal purposes is Lavandula Angustifolia & more specifically Royal Velvet, Folgate & Melissa. These are better known for cooking, as they have a nicer taste that isn’t ‘soapy’ like other Lavandula plant species.

You can now find capsules of lavender on the market that are for oral consumption, to save you any hassle when creating your sleeping regiment.

Can you smoke lavender?

Although it is possible to smoke lavender in different forms i.e. vaping & with tobacco, but it is not yet deemed safe. There is no evidence that has been conducted scientifically in the safety of smoking lavender, to support any anecdotal benefit claims of smoking lavender.

When plant materials are burned, the combustion of the materials can be carcinogenic. That’s why it is noted to potentially be safer to evaporate the essential oil via a candle or diffuser method instead of burning it through a cigarette.

Can lavender oil be used on skin?

Lavender essential oils were used by ancient Egyptians in cosmetics & massage oils, as we move into modern society we have been able to advance the process of extracting the oil for skincare and cosmetics.

Yes, lavender can be used on the skin.

Lavender oil in its purest form can be used on the skin, but there are also moisturisers that contain lavender essential oil to help the body absorb the lavender more efficiently while keeping the skin soft.

You can often find lavender essential oils in massage oils, to help promote the body into a more relaxed state. It is a technique that is used by many spa’s across the world, to help people achieve a calmer & more enjoyable experience.

This is also partly to do with lavender’s potentially ability to reduce muscle stress & tension, if applied topically.

Is lavender safe for cats?

Lavender is not safe for cats in any form.

Symptoms of lavender consumption for cats can be vomiting, diarrhoea & weakness. It is important to keep lavender plants and essential oils away from your cat.

Although a cat is unlikely to try and seek out lavender as a potential food, you want to be careful when handling lavender essential oils around any cat food, in case of any cross contamination.

Is lavender safe for dogs?

Lavender is not safe for dogs in large quantities. Dogs are intolerant to compounds in lavender such as linalool, which can cause vomiting & diarrhoea. It is fine in really low doses, so it’s important to make sure your dog can never consume copious amounts of the substance.

What is REM sleep?

UncategorisedOctober 15, 2022March 21, 2023

What is REM sleep?

Have you ever seen someone when they’re sleeping, their eyelids are moving rapidly and it looks like they’re in the middle of some hectic dreams?

This is REM sleep. REM stands for rapid eye movement and it’s one of the stages of sleep you visit each night when you fall asleep.

Why is sleep so important?

Sleep is vital to maintain a healthy body and mind. When we don’t get enough sleep, have poor quality sleep or interrupted sleep our mental and physical health is impaired.

Sleep not only gives our body the chance to rest and make repairs, but it aids learning, cognitive functioning, processing emotions and consolidating memories.

Our time asleep is spent across 4 different sleep stages, each one providing our bodies the time they need to repair and rest. Whilst we are sleeping the body hibernates and slows certain processes to enable us to recuperate from our exertions during wakefulness.

We’ll spend the night gently moving from one sleep stage to the next, going through up to 6 complete sleep cycles each night when we have an uninterrupted night’s sleep.

Studies have shown that brain activity differs between these sleep cycle stages, and each has different characteristics.

What are the different stages of sleep?

The stages of sleep 1 – 3 are known as NREM sleep stages, or non-rapid eye movement sleep.

Stage 1 is the initial falling asleep where we sometimes doze before falling asleep properly. During this stage our brain and body begins to slow down. This stage is characterized by occasional twitching, which is more common in men than women. If uninterrupted whilst asleep, we will spend the least amount of time sleeping in stage 1.

Stage 2 follows, and this is where our muscles begin to relax, our breathing slows, our heart rate slows and our temperature drops. Our brain activity is generally reduced, and we’ll spend around half the night in stage 2 sleep as we move through our sleep cycles.

Stage 3 is known as deep sleep and it this is when our body and brain is at its least active during sleep. It is harder to wake someone from sleep stage 3 and when woken, the sleeper may be disorientated initially.

It is thought we spend more time in this sleep stage during the first half of the night and that this type of sleep is best for our body and brains growth and recovery.

REM sleep follows sleep stage 3 and also precedes it as we move through our sleep cycle. REM sleep is characterized by the movement of the eyes behind our eyelids, and this is the stage we dream most often.

Activity in our brains increases to an almost waking level of activity and we dream our most vivid dreams during REM.

It is believed that REM sleep is vital for cognitive functioning and that we spend around a quarter of the time asleep in this state.

Experts believe that REM and dreaming help us with emotional processing, consolidating memories and brain development.

Lack of sleep

When we get an uninterrupted night’s sleep, we move from one stage of sleep to another and spend time in each of these states. Experts believe that each stage is essential for the restoration of our bodies which is why a lack of sleep can affect our ability to function so profoundly.

Ensuring we get a good night’s sleep is vital for feeling our best during the day.

Sleep aids

Blocking out light by using 3D sleep masks can help ensure a good night’s sleep, if you’re a light sleeper, or try one of our light pods for creating a calming environment before bed.

We also have a range of sleep sprays and linen sprays which can help you to relax at the end of the day.

If you’re struggling to get to sleep, read our blog on how to get to sleep fast for our top tips for falling asleep. How to fix your sleep schedule is also important when trying to improve your quality and quantity of sleep.

bridge design

Superior nose

bridge design

Superior nose

Why You Shouldn’t Wear a Bluetooth Sleep Mask

UncategorisedOctober 15, 2022September 6, 2023

Why You Shouldn’t Wear a Bluetooth Sleep Mask

Let’s be honest, electronic devices & bluetooth are everywhere in modern society. It is so hard to ever be able to take a break away from an electronic device, whether it be your mobile phone, laptop, tv or bluetooth sleep mask.

We are absolutely surrounded by electronic devices, unfortunately there is small amounts of evidence being provided pointing towards the fact that this might in fact be bad for our health & more specifically; the way we sleep.

Find more information to why mobile phones, Wifi & bluetooth sleep masks may disrupt our sleep & potentially harm our health below.

Is Bluetooth Radiation?

The first question people ask is, is Bluetooth radiation?

The answer is Yes.

Bluetooth is a form of microwave radiation that has been made to be a lower ‘non-ionizing’ type of radiation, which currently regulators deem ‘safe’ to humans.

They way in which this has been decided by regulatory bodies is that because it has not been fully proven that bluetooth & electronic devices may be harmful to human health (because it hasn’t been around long enough), then there is no reason to ban bluetooth for human use.

The unsettling thing is, there is a lot of evidence now starting to pile up suggesting that it may be more harmful to humans than we originally thought.

What is EMF?

You may have heard of it, but EMF stands for ‘Electromotive Force’. It is essentially a form of radiation that is emitted form Wifi, mobile phones, bluetooth & many electronic devices.

Is Bluetooth Dangerous?

Well, this is unclear.

Currently the official answer is No.

But there have been some studies that might help you make your own decision on the matter.

A study found that when a Drosophila melanogaster insect was exposed to non-ionizing radiation (NIR), it experienced apoptotic cell death, even at very low electric field strengths. Apoptotic cell death is related to the damage of the cells, which is a secondary response to DNA damage, causing DNA fragmentation.

Another study replicated a study from an earlier experiment which confirmed that exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields can promote tumour growth with humans & mice.

In a separate study it was found that bluetooth radiation reduces female fertility by harming the ovarian follicles, endometrial tissue & creating an upsurge of free radical load in the uterus & ovaries.

This can cause altercations in both germ cells as well as other reproductive elements of the female anatomy.

This is a slightly worry insight into the potential dangerous of Bluetooth and EMF devices as a whole. There might need to be more studies looking into current uses of how humans interact with EMF devices to see if we need to have a rethink of their overall safety.

How Does Bluetooth & EMF Affect Sleep?

Getting effective sleep between 7-9 hours is crucial to longevity & living healthy life. So making sure our sleep is of the highest quality for optimal health, do we need to look at our bluetooth & electronic devices that surround us while we sleep?

EMF is said to disrupt the bodies natural production of melatonin, which is the bodies natural sleep hormone. If you do not produce optimal amounts of melatonin, you will not get the best sleep quality.

Melatonin has been shown to be anticarcinogenic, which in theory would mean that it could potentially help the body prevent cancer.

Bluetooth Can Reduce Natural Melatonin Production

A study has shown that EMF can reduce the natural melatonin production of animals by up to 30%, which is a huge number in the grand scheme of things.

Over a long period of time people hypothesize that this could cause problems for your health & wellbeing.

Another study showed that extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure has a negative affect on overall sleep quality.

It is noted in the study that poor sleep quality reduces longevity from 80 years to 65–70 years. That is a potential reduction of life span of up to 18%. This shows how crucial high quality sleep is in correlation with life span.

What We Can Do to Improve Our Sleep in a Modern World

The suggestions are to avoid wearing a bluetooth sleep mask or bluetooth headphones as a priority while you sleep. It is suggested that it may be best to also turn your phone off while you, or even turn it onto ‘airplane mode’ while you rest.

There is anecdotal evidence that people have gotten better sleep when they have had their Wi-Fi turned off, compared to it being switched on. Basically, anything electronic is best being turned off in your bedroom while you sleep.

You can see more information on why it is so hard to sleep in a modern world.

Take Supplementation

A research paper was published that showed the potential benefits of Vitamin C & Vitamin E against EMF induced damage. They have both been shown to have antioxidant properties, which means that they may be able to negate some of the damage that is done to the human body.

Glutathione was also shown in a study to help protect rats against oxidative stress caused by electromagnetic radiation during pregnancy.

Zinc supplementation was also seen to protect rats brains against electromagnetic field induced lipid peroxidation in another study.

These are very interesting concepts as it gives us an idea that there may be things that humans need to explore that could help us in modern society. We hope more research can be done into this to give us more definitive answers to things that can help protect our health & wellbeing.

Wear a Sleep Mask that Doesn’t Emit EMF or Bluetooth

Sleep Masks are known for improving sleep quality due to being able to block light to improve melatonin production, so the next best available option is to choose a 3D Sleep Mask that doesn’t emit any EMF.

Light at nighttime is energising, so blocking out the light when you try to sleep can help you achieve higher quality sleep.

If you’re struggling to get to sleep you can add different things to your sleep routine, instead of using relaxing music.

Meditation for Sleep

Practicing meditation is being used more and more to induce sleep by helping you relax & get into a tranquil mindset. This is potentially one of the most potent components to add to your sleep routine if you struggle with getting to sleep.

At a biological level, meditation practices slow the bod’s heart rate down which in turn slows the breathing rate. This causes a reaction in the body to reduce the levels of cortisol (the body’s stress hormone).

Studies have shown that experienced meditators can achieve a higher levels of slow-wave sleep & REM sleep.

Sleep Sprays

Many sleep sprays and pillow sprays contain essential oils that have been used to help induce sleep for thousands of years. Lavender sleep sprays use one of the most common essential oils, which is associated with optimising & reducing the onset time of sleep.

Some people see sleep sprays as an alternative to melatonin, but others just enjoy the relaxing scents as they go to sleep.

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essential oils 10 calming

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Have a Cold Bedroom for Better Sleep

Having a bedroom that is around 18.3°C (65°F) can help your core body temperature drop, which can increase the time in which you fall asleep. It can also help you produce a deeper sleep & sleep length.

Using Candles in the Evening

Swapping out your electronic devices for aromatherapy candles in the
evening while reading a book can help you get to sleep earlier. The infrared candle flames are healthy for your eyes, as the colours represent sunset which
can help trigger the brain to want to go to sleep.

Natural Sunlight for Sleep

Getting some morning sunlight every day can help you reset your circadian rhythm, which is your body’s natural body clock. This process of getting morning daylight helps your body understand that it needs to be awake for the rest of the day, but be tired & primed for sleep in the evening.

See our post on how to get to sleep fast for more sleep tips.

Make Your Own Decision

Overall, it’s your life and you make your own choices. Currently the guidance is that bluetooth and EMF is safe & until there are more convincing studies available that are peer reviewed by our government regulatory bodies, we must believe this to be true.

But, reducing your time away from technology has never really been a bad thing

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. This is not medical advice or guidance. You should always consult a doctor before taking any supplementation & none of this has been proven through human studies.

It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.

We do not offer medical advice, course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other opinion on your conditions or treatment options.

What NOT to do before going to sleep

UncategorisedOctober 8, 2022April 18, 2023

What NOT to do before going to sleep

Have you ever gone to bed feeling tired and instead off drifting peacefully, you find yourself lying wide awake an hour later wondering “WHY CAN’T I SLEEP???”.

Don’t worry, this has happened to all of us at some point, you’re definitely not alone. Sleep is so important in making sure we’re the best version of ourselves whilst awake, and not getting enough can throw us totally off our ‘A’ game.

Lucky for you we have put together some suggestions for what NOT to do before going to sleep. Read on to learn what to avoid to get the best possible night’s sleep, every night.

Try not to worry

We’ve all done it – gone to bed to try and get a decent night’s sleep then lain there thinking about work, home, family, things that need to be done, what someone said today, where you need to be tomorrow, is the back door locked?!

There can be so much to worry about daily in the society we live in, it’s no wonder it keeps some of us awake at night.

With our lives shared online, through social media and instant messaging, many of us are in constant digital contact with others.

There is pressure to have certain things, to look a certain way, to behave in a certain way and conform to a set of perceived standards, both personally and professionally.

Some of us worry about what’s happening around us and with 24/7 news sites and apps it can become overwhelming for people of all ages. All these things can affect our ability to switch off at night.

Ways to help with anxiety and worrying can include meditation, yoga, confiding in someone or going for a walk. There are also breathing techniques you can try to help calm down and relax.

Check out our blog ‘How to get to sleep fast’ for more suggestions on how to relax.

Avoid caffeine for sleep benefits

Caffeine is most often found in drinks such as tea and coffee, although energy drinks and fizzy drinks can contain high amount of caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant and experts say it can even help to boost cognitive functioning.

However the down side is that caffeine can adversely affect your circadian rhythms by inhibiting your body’s ability to produce melatonin – that helpful hormone which encourages us to feel sleepy.

You will be able to feel the effects of drinking a caffeinated drink between 30-60 minutes after consumption, but caffeine can still affect your body many hours later. Therefore, you should limit your caffeine intake in the afternoon, so it doesn’t stop you falling asleep at bedtime.

Avoid certain foods for better sleep

Our diet plays an important role in the quality of our sleep. Being overweight can inhibit your ability to fall, and stay, asleep. Consequently, being tired and not getting enough sleep can make us more prone to overindulging and can stop us feeling full, which leads to a cyclical pattern which can be hard to break.

For a restorative night’s sleep try to avoid fatty food or carbohydrate-heavy meals as these will take longer for your body to digest.

Digestion of a heavy meal can keep you awake and stop you feeling sleepy, or if you do fall asleep, it can make you restless and unsettling during the night.

Sugary foods can also affect your sleep. The insulin needed to break down the sugars converts it to energy which can consequently give you a burst of stimulation when you’d rather be preparing to rest.

Avoid sugary snacks close to bedtime to ensure your body is able to relax and unwind ready for falling asleep.

For optimal sleep it is said that it is best to have your last meal 3 hours before you go to sleep.

Don’t exercise too close to bedtime

Regular exercise is essential to maintaining a healthy body and mind. Being a healthy weight and having an active lifestyle is a proven way to ensure consistent sleep health as well as reducing your risk of certain diseases, it helps to maintain a strong body and ensures better cardiovascular health.

Exercising, or any activity which increases your heartrate, encourages your body to produce endorphins which are known as natural mood elevators and painkillers.

Aerobic exercise also reduces the body’s stress hormones. The effects of exercise on your brain on body are tremendous and play a big part in helping you to feel tired and sleeping restfully.

Raising your heart rate also increases your body temperature which can stop you feeling tired and keep you awake at nighttime.

Exercising before bed is not recommended as the ‘high’ this can induce is initially stimulating and can make you feel way more alert than sleepy.

Reduce screen time

We are exposed to more blue light that ever before as many of our devices use LED technology which involves high amounts of blue light.

Blue light wavelengths are short and high-energy and we can detect this light through both our eyes and skin.

Exposure to blue light towards the end of the day acts as a stimulant and inhibits the body’s production of melatonin, that super helpful sleep-inducing hormone.

Avoid watching screens too close to bedtime to ensure your body is best prepared for sleep.

Swap your phone for a book or use a aromatherapy candleas a main light source before you go to bed to help your brain switch off.

Avoid alcohol for better sleep

Drinking alcohol depresses your central nervous system and reduces brain activity, making you feel relaxed and lethargic which can help you fall asleep.

However, the quality of your sleep when drinking excessively is drastically reduced. Falling asleep quickly after consuming alcohol sends many of us straight into a deep sleep which reduces the amount of time spent in other sleep stages.

This imbalance can cause us to sleep fitfully, wake early and struggle to get back to sleep again. Consuming liquids in excess can also keep you up at night, adding to the poor-quality night’s sleep.

It is best to avoid drinking excessively before bed to ensure you sleep restfully throughout the night.

Don’t go to bed too early

Have you read our recent blog article about ‘How to fix your sleep schedule’?

Setting up a regular bedtime routine is one of the best ways to get to sleep fast, to sleep well and to get a consistently good amount of sleep.

This is why new mothers are encouraged to establish a feeding and sleeping routine for new babies as early as possible.

As a proven strategy for settling babies into a familiar and comfortable routine it benefits not only themselves but new mothers who may be sleep deprived too.

Going to bed earlier than normal can throw your routine out the window and make it much trickier to fall asleep.

So try to go to bed at the same time each night, weekdays and at the weekend.

How to get better sleep

The experts recommend that we get between 7 – 9 hours of sleep a night, so this is the target number to try and work towards. Working to a sleep schedule can help your body know when to feel tired and when to wake up.

Maintaining a healthy diet and weight, exercising regularly and making sure you get enough daylight exposure, will all contribute to making you to feel tired at bedtime. Most importantly, try to avoid all the above before going to sleep!

Why is it so hard to sleep in a modern world?

UncategorisedJune 19, 2022March 19, 2023

Why is it so hard to get to sleep in our modern world?

We are living in an age where information is at our fingertips and we are connected to the modern world and those around us constantly. Mobile technology has enabled us to communicate more, to access others easily, to be more available and logged in all the time. Many now seem to wonder; why is it so hard to sleep in a modern world?

These days we all have a mobile device – it’s not a generational thing either. Our Granny’s have iPads, our kids have tablets and our teenagers have smartphones. We are able to get hold of almost anything at almost any time and the world is more accessible that it has ever been before.

But is all of this a good thing?! Or is this level of connectivity contributing to our sleep problems more than ever??

For some, perpetual connectivity comes with constant pressure. Pressure to be available, pressure to look and behave like those perceived to be looking and behaving perfectly, pressure to eat certain things, go certain places and have specific things.

This quest for perceived perfection has taken over many of our lives and is taking its toll on our mental health and affecting our ability to sleep. Ever heard that saying ‘the grass is always greener’? Well, social media allegedly tells us what everyone else is up to but a lot of what we see is not actually real life – just a filtered version of the good parts.

Modern technology has jumped in leaps and bounds in recent decades with mobile devices getting smarter, TV’s getting bigger, screens becoming more real and in the midst of all of this, have we stopped to wonder if maybe this level of exposure is detrimental to our health?

How we sleep at night has never been more important when faced with the modern world we live in.

Way back when, before electricity and artificial lights, our physiological selves woke with the sun, experienced an active waking lifestyle during daylight houses and felt sleepy with its setting, shutting down our homeostatic drives ready for restorative sleep.

Our circadian rhythms were in tune with the regular cycle of light and dark dictated to by the passing of day and night. Now we are exposed to light from the moment we wake to long after dark in the form of our phones, computers, tablets and other devices. This prolific and prolonged exposure to light must be having an effect of our sleep quality too, right?

How does light exposure affect sleep?

Light exposure, especially the blue light many of our screens use, has been found to hinder melatonin production and can keep us alert when we really should be starting to feel tired. The average time spent in front of a screen must be at an all-time high and it’s no wonder many of us are feeling sleep anxiety.

Scrolling through your phone before bed, working on your tablet in the evening or even watching TV before you go to sleep can all affect your bodies circadian rhythms and obstruct our ability to produce melatonin – that helpful hormone that helps us to feel sleepy.

Rather than inducing tiredness, light is stimulating and gets us ready for action, not ready for bed!

Why can’t I sleep?

With so much going on around us all the time, it’s no wonder our brains sometimes struggle to switch off at the end of a busy day. Bad habits such as reading work emails late at night, scrolling through our social media news feeds and even reading on tablets and e-readers before bed expose us to light at a time when our bodies should be feeling sleeping and powering down for the night.

Let’s look at some of the reasons you may be struggling to sleep at night.

Devices

Our screens, and we all have them in our homes, emit light which receptors in our eyes respond to. Messages are sent down our optical nerves to the brain telling us if they’re perceiving light then it must not be time to go to sleep yet. Our circadian rhythms are sent completely out of whack and melatonin, that wonderful sleep-inducing hormone, production is hindered.

Try turning off your device a couple of hours before bed to reduce eye strain and avoid those stimulating short wavelength blue light rays. If you find you are unable to switch off, consider buying some blue light glasses to help with this by filtering out much of the blue light waves.

Mental health issues

Worryingly many of us are being diagnosed with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar and eating disorders, at a rate that seems to be increasing. We are faced with so much more information than ever before that this can add to feelings of inadequacy, pressure and anxiety.

Juggling life and work can be challenging for many adults, or for teenagers, school and homework. Work-related stress can make it difficult to switch off leading us to spend longer at our computers and other devices, increasing this already high level of light exposure.

Meditation and breathing techniques are strategies you can use to try to relax and unwind and get your mind ready for sleep. See our blog ‘How to get to sleep fast’ for more information on techniques to help power down.

Obesity

Our modern world not only makes technology accessible to all, but food availability has increased too. When we are surrounded by fast food restaurants, microwave meals and food deliveries to your door 24/7, it’s no wonder more of us are overweight that ever before.

The NHS predicts that at least 25% of UK adults are classed as obese. With obesity comes a variety of health issues which range from increased risk to certain conditions such as diabetes and poor heart health, mental health problems including depression and even some types of cancer. Being overweight can also adversely affect your sleep quality by causing you to snore or worse, give you sleep apnoea – where you stop breathing during your sleep.

How we sleep at night affects how we feel during the day too, where those of us having lower quality sleep may tend to feel sluggish and lack motivation during the day. Sleep deprivation disrupts our hormone production too and can lead us to over-eat by not being able to feel full and to crave sugary foods in larger portions that normal, perpetuating this cyclical pattern of being overweight and struggling to sleep.

To ensure a good quality nights sleep, try maintaining a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and veg and exercise regularly to give yourself the best possible chance of a healthy body and healthy sleep.

How to get to sleep fast

To sum up, there are steps you can take to improve your sleep quality and duration and help with sleep anxiety.

Maintain a healthy diet
Exercise regularly
Fix your sleep schedule
Limit your device use
Set your room temperature to cool

… and read our blog of course – ‘How to get to sleep fast!’