The Importance of a Good Night’s Sleep: It’s Not Just for Beauty
That old adage declaring sleep as the fountain of youth is actually true.
Experts say that getting between 8 and 9 hours of sleep can result in a host of beauty benefits. Some of those benefits include increasing collagen production, which combats fine lines and wrinkles, and boosting blood flow, which can brighten your complexion, deliver nutrients and vitamins to hair follicles, and reduce dark circles and puffy eyes.
There are many additional benefits associated with a good night’s sleep that extend far beyond our outward appearance. Researchers at the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School explain that sleep also plays a critical role in learning and memory formation.
Although the links are not wholly understood, researchers explain that the process of learning and creating long-term memories require distinct steps. These include:
• Acquisition, which is the process of introducing new information to the brain.
• Consolidation, which is the process by which a memory becomes stable.
• Recall, which includes our ability to tap into and retrieve the information.
Research suggests a quality night’s sleep is critical for the second process, consolidation, to fully take place. When we sleep, a complex interaction of neural connections and brainwaves take place that is integral for converting new information into a distinct, retrievable memory.
While sleep isn’t the only factor contributing to memory formation, without it, our ability to form and retain information is significantly reduced. So, while being sleep deprived, or even short on sleep, could be accelerating fine lines and a dull complexion, poor sleep may also impede our ability to learn and form memories.
This is all particularly unfortunate, as—if you’re like most Americans—you probably are not getting the recommended 8 to 9 hours of sleep. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to kick-start a healthier sleep cycle.
First: Invest in a quality mattress. Your mattress should adhere to your body and sleep position as well as your desired firmness level, whether it be soft, medium, or firm. Brands like Muse Sleep offer high-quality memory foam mattresses in a range of firmness levels and sizes, including memory foam mattress king size all the way down to twin, providing a range of mattress options that will help you sleep better at night and awake feeling rested.
Another easy step you can take is to control the temperature in your room. Experts suggest keeping your room between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit, though your optimal temperature will depend on other factors such as age, weight, and gender. Turning on a ceiling or floor fan can help regulate your temperature, but your mattress also plays a significant role in how cool you feel at night.
Older foam mattresses tend to absorb heat and trap it around you. Instead, look for a memory foam mattress with cooling technology and gel-infused foam that will keep you cool and comfortable throughout the night. The best memory foam mattresses will also pull heat away from you instead of trapping it around you. Search for a cool memory foam mattress that is free from chemicals and dyes and wicks away moisture. Staying cool throughout the night will help you fall asleep and, most importantly, stay asleep.
About Muse Sleep
Muse Sleep caters to every body and sleep position by offering three different firmness levels for your optimal sleep. Muse Sleep offers the best cool memory foam mattress with a gel-infused top layer to keep you cool all night. They also feature CertiPUR-US® Certified Foam and temperature-regulating Diamond Breeze Fabric, and come in a variety of sizes from California king to twin XL. Launched in late 2016, Muse Sleep will deliver their high-quality memory foam mattresses directly to you with free shipping, a 10-year limited warranty, and a 120-night risk-free trial.
Find your memory foam mattress today at www.musesleep.com