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Time Change & Sweet Dreams

Good sleep is essential to good health. We know we’re supposed to get enough sleep, and we really try but it’s easier said than done. And this month’s time shift is going to make it even harder. Springing forward in time has us losing an hour of precious, glorious sleep and that really messes up our circadian rhythm – the 24-hour body clock that’s governed by light - and disrupts our sleep schedule. 

Sleep disruption impacts our ability to regulate our blood sugar. We feel hungry when we’re not really hungry, and our immune systems function less efficiently. Research reports a spike in car accidents, heart attacks and workplace injuries, along with a dip in moods and motivation. The negative effects of sleep loss from the time change can last weeks, even months, but there are things you can do to help get through the night. Sleep is self-care!

Start the day out right with a healthy, protein-rich breakfast. Drink 15 ounces of water before your morning coffee, and quit the caffeine after 2 p.m. Expose yourself to light, especially sunlight, as soon as you get up. This stops the production of melatonin and reduces that groggy tired feeling. Aim for 15 minutes. Get regular physical activity. Data suggests that exercising during the day helps you fall asleep more quickly and plunges you into a longer, deeper sleep. But stop four hours before bed so it will not disrupt your sleep.

Do not sleep in to make up for lost sleep. Get up at your weekday wake-up time and go to bed at your usual time. Sleeping in disrupts your internal biological clock. Power down an hour before bedtime, including shutting out noise and light pollution from the TV, electronic devices and any blue light. If the time change sleep disruption is compounded by nighttime worries, start keeping a worry journal. Taking your worries from your mind to the written page will help you relax for a more restful night. 

Create a restful sleep environment. Quiet and dark, temperature between 60 and 75 degrees, and soothing scents. Make sure your mattress and pillows are comfy. Serene spaces bring sweet dreams to Ste. Anne’s guests. Our calming accommodations, with the plushest of mattresses, the softest sheets and the coziest pillows, promote multi-sensory relaxation and healthy slumber. 

A cozy soak in our Meditative and Therapeutic Hydrotherapy Pools will bring on the best bedtime zzz’s. Our aromatherapy treatments using our pure aromatic oils – lavender gets high marks – bring healing to the body and the mind. Book a CBD Canna Massage to soothe the senses and ease muscle tension before dozing off. Our nourishing, healthy cuisine feeds a good night’s rest. 

Sleep is your superpower, with significant restorative benefits for the body, mind and soul. Ste. Anne’s is a superpower for restoring well-being, a haven of rest and relaxation. Come fall into dreamland with a visit to our spa.