Sleep

Nowadays, everybody has an opinion on almost everything, but there is one thing that every adult can agree on: sleep is awesome! Whether it's having a good night's sleep or taking a cat nap in the afternoon, sleep is just the best. Remember being a kid and not wanting to go to bed? I for one am embarrassed that I wasted all that time not sleeping!

I've begun to do a lot of research on sleep and how important it is in our lives. I've been using data from Whoop (see a previous blog post about this company) to figure out the best time to sleep, my consistency, and how long I sleep for. Our wellbeing truly begins with a good night's sleep. Here are just a few ways that sleep helps us:

1.     It allows our bodies to rest and recover.

2.     Research has shown that getting enough proper sleep will help you make better food choices.

3.     Sleep improves your immune function.

4.     Our social and emotional interactions are influenced by our sleep.

I have never had much trouble sleeping before, but in the last few months, I've had a lot of trouble falling and staying asleep. It seems that it takes longer for my mind to shut down and go to sleep these days, which has thrown my whole sleep cycle all out of whack. I am also learning that Multiple Sclerosis can make it difficult to get good quality shut-eye; stress, depression, and muscle spasms which can be side effects of the disease, along with lesions on certain spots on the brain, can all impact sleep.

I've been doing a few things recently that have made a difference. I bought a pair of blue light-blocking glasses from a company in Brampton (you'll be hearing about them soon!) that I wear in the evenings while watching TV or while on my phone. I've also downloaded and started listening to the Calm App, which includes a variety of sleep songs, music, and meditation options.

Here’s to hoping that you were so bored reading this, that you went to sleep!

-       Jesse