A Good Night’s Sleep: The Secret
to Looking and Feeling Younger

Sleep is called “beauty rest” for a reason. Numerous studies have shown how sleep can improve your mental health, complexion, and even your body weight. In fact, research has even shown that sleep-deprived people are perceived as being less healthy and less attractive. If you have trouble sleeping due to insomnia or other sleep conditions, this might all sound like bad news. However, there are many ways to improve your sleep quality so you can look more youthful and feel more confident in your own skin.

Evaluate Your Mattress

It’s no secret that having a good mattress is important for getting restful sleep. Mattresses last for a pretty long time, but they’re by no means invincible. There are lots of signs that you should replace your mattress, such as waking up sore or even experiencing more allergy symptoms.

A new mattress is expensive, but you should look at it as an investment in your health and beauty. When comparing prices, consider the fact that you’ll use your new mattress for many years. A $2,000 mattress only costs about a dollar per night if you sleep on it for seven to 10 years. When choosing a mattress, keep in mind they are not “one size fits all.” To find the best style for you, it’s necessary to take factors like your age, weight, and sleep style into account.

Make Your Room a Haven for Sleep

With a good mattress and comfy sheets, your bedroom will be much more conducive to sleep. However, there are many ways you can turn your room into a sleep haven. Start by assessing traffic noises, outside light, and clutter, as each can distract you from good sleep.

Hanging heavy blackout curtains is a good way to minimize any sound and light that infiltrates your room. Blackout curtains can be pricey, but if they help you sleep, they should be seen as an investment for your health and wellness.

If your walls are a bright color, repainting them to a more relaxing hue might improve your sleep as well. Given that most modern paints only require a single coat, this is an affordable way to reinvent your bedroom for better sleep.

Practice Good Bedtime Habits

With your room completely set up for better sleep, now’s the time to develop a good nightly routine, which can work wonders for improving your beauty rest. To achieve better skin, for example, the experts at Healthline suggest washing your face, using a moisturizer and sleeping on your back. And for a more restful night overall, you should avoid things like caffeine, alcohol, blue light exposure, and other sleep saboteurs.

Could It Be Your Teeth?

If you’ve grown up with an untreated malocclusion, or overbite, you may be under the impression that it’s not worth correcting. However, a misaligned jaw can be a serious contributor to a lack of restful sleep. A misaligned jaw can obstruct the airway, which makes it harder for your body to get enough oxygen, thus leaving you feeling more groggy the next day. If you think your overbite is affecting your sleep, it’s time to think about treatment. There are many options available to treat mild, moderate and severe overbite. According to SmilePrep, four of the most common options include braces, Invisalign, at-home teeth aligners, and overbite correction surgery. If you’re unsure which option is right for you, it’s time to do your research so that you can land on the right treatment plan for your needs.

Add Yoga to Your Life

Incorporating a yoga practice into your daily routine can yield many surprising benefits. Yoga is mostly known for the physical benefits of asana (e.g. Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Bikram, etc.), but through regular practice, you’ll notice that you feel calmer, you’ll naturally begin to amplify your efforts to be healthier, your stress levels will subside, and you’ll even sleep better. Yoga can be a very effective activity before bedtime when you opt for slow, calming poses that help stretch and soothe the mind and body in preparation for sleep.

Getting a good night’s rest is crucial for your mental and physical health. However, it also affects your appearance, and therefore, your self-confidence. By setting your room up right and practicing good habits, you’ll be on your way to better beauty rest.

While preparing for sleep, make sure to incorporate a good skincare routine. Shirley Conlon Organics offers organic face and body products for all skin types and concerns.