We’re all used to working for things in life. We work to make money, we work to stay in shape – we even work to maintain good relationships with our friends and family.
But, it may surprise you to learn you that can look younger and live longer simply by climbing into bed and falling asleep for seven to nine hours each night.
Now that’s something we can all get ‘on-bed’ with!
How sleep keeps us young and healthy
Technically, our bodies are still working through the night – in fact, it’s while we sleep that our bodies are repairing from the physical, emotional and psychological stressors we’ve experienced throughout the day.
When we fall into a deep sleep, our brains trigger the release of hormones and compounds that increase blood flow and initiate cell-repair. It’s this magic that helps to replenish our skin and hair, boost immunity and longevity, and even lower the risk of certain diseases!
How much sleep is enough?
The key to solid beauty sleep is not only the quality of sleep but the quantity, too. You need to sleep for at least 7 hours (but no more than 9) in order for your body to enter its super-powered healing mode.
3 powers of beauty sleep that keep us looking young
1. Replenishes skin
Our skin produces new collagen while we sleep, which is key in helping to prevent fine lines and sagging skin. And, with consistent, boosted blood flow through the night, you’ll awaken with a healthy, rosy glow in the morning! Getting seven to nine hours per night also means skincare products like night creams and serums work more effectively, too!
2. Brightens eyes and reduces puffiness
When we skip out on Zzzs our blood flow decreases, paling our skin and causing blood to pool beneath our eyes – and increasing swelling. By staying properly hydrated and getting restful sleep each night, you can help eliminate puffiness and brighten your eyes for a youthful glow. You can further reduce puffiness by propping your head up with an extra pillow at night.
3. Strengthens hair and promotes growth
With increased blood flow, your hair follicles are able to receive more vitamins and minerals as you sleep, supplying your hair with the proper amount of nutrients to grow healthy and strong. When we’re not getting enough shut-eye, our hair’s access to nutrients is limited by decreased blood flow, which can stunt hair growth and increase the risk of damage and breakage. Plus, when we’re running on less sleep, our bodies are under more stress. This increases our levels of the hormone cortisol, which is linked to hair loss.
Schedule in your beauty sleep
With all this knowledge, it’s important to adjust your schedule to allow your body to get enough sleep each night in order to benefit from all the boons of beauty sleep. Make sure you’re getting somewhere between seven to nine hours each night – even on the weekends!
A quick-start guide to get your sleep back on track
If you’re struggling with a backward sleep schedule, swirling in the vortex of sleep deprivation, here’s a quick-start guide to get your sleep schedule back on track!
1st Day: Go to bed at 11 p.m. and wake up at 10:00 a.m.
2nd Day: Go to bed at 11 p.m. and wake up at 8:00 a.m.
3rd Day: Go to bed at 11 p.m. and wake up at 6:00 a.m
The trick is to adjust in small increments in order to ease your body back into a solid routine. From here, consistently aim for those seven to nine hours throughout the week to normalize your sleep schedule and give your body enough time to heal and repair. (Try keeping a sleep log to track your progress!)
Go ahead, sleep in!
Beauty sleep is so important for maintaining health, so go ahead, get your sleep!
And the next time someone razzes you for sleeping in, you can kindly inform them that you’re actually taking proper care of yourself. Let yourself fall into beauty sleep for a healthier you!
