Do you ever feel like you're on a tightrope trying to balance your work life with truly restful
sleep? If you said yes, then you're going to want to learn the best herbal supplements for sleep.
Many herbs are great natural sleep aids. These natural supplements for sleep have far
less side effects than over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. They also have added health
benefits that medications do not. Herbs that promote sleep are a great first step to overall
lifestyle changes that lead to improved work productivity and wellbeing.
How Corporate Life Contributes to Poor Sleep
Despite our best efforts to balance workplace health with at-home lifestyle health, more often
then not, the scales tip toward our work life which negatively impacts our sleep. We spend most
of our waking hours at work, our home away from home.
Are you feeling a need to improve your work/home life balance in order to feel better? If you can relate, you’re going to want to know how your work life can contribute to sleep-related
issues. It's far more common than we realize. Many working adults may say they've had trouble sleeping well through the night–especially those with jobs in the corporate world.
Could your job contribute to sleep Issues and in turn lower work performance? The typical daily work grind tends to create a familiar hamster wheel effect:
- Waking up feeling tired due to lack of sleep
- Poor breakfast habits, including coffee, carbs and sweets that contain little-to-no
- nutritional value
- A rushed morning with many responsibilities before work begins
- Long work hours, often in front of a computer screen while sedentary
- High-stress environment with deadlines
- Poor lighting and comfort
- Other people's energy and workplace culture
- Rushing home to make dinner and eat
- Pick up where you left off with at-home responsibilities
- Lay down to sleep, go over the entire work day in your head
- Wake up frequently throughout the night
This round and round routine is a common scenario for most business professionals. However, it doesn’t have to be that way! You can commit to improving your sleep by making simple changes today that can have a big impact down the road. As your sleep improves, so will your productivity at work.
Each morning you feel your body as you walk across the room to the bathroom. Are you feeling
strong, limber, and energized? Or are you stiff, sore, and still exhausted? You see yourself in the
mirror–are your eyes bright and clear? How about your skin? Or are your eyes puffy with bags where smile lines should be? We don’t all have our best mornings, but if this is you consistently,
now is the time to take steps to improve your sleep habits.
Better Sleep Equals Better Work Performance
Research has shown that poor sleep leads to lowered productivity at work by altering a person's
mood, energy and memory. These are all important factors when it comes to doing your best at
work.
Just a handful of simple changes can improve your sleep and enhance your work performance:
New breakfast habits: Make a smoothie with fresh fruits, dark leafy green vegetables, protein powder, and include an herbal extract supplement. Choose one that will help the body enhance immune system function, lower inflammation and promote longevity such as turmeric rhizome and licorice root.
Get up earlier and move your body and calm your mind: Set your alarm for 30 minutes to 1 hour earlier so you can workout, do yoga and/or meditate.This sets the tone for the day and has been proven to improve work performance, memory, sleep and overall well being. Do this at least 3-4 times per week.
Set clear boundaries on how many hours you can work: Breaking up work throughout the day is helpful to maintain a clear mind. Go for brisk walks on your breaks. Opt for a standing or treadmill desk. Stretch as frequently as possible to keep up a healthy blood flow.
Improve stress management: As your sleep improves so will your performance, which may lead to lower stress. How you begin and end your day matters in how your body will respond to this area of life.
Manage blue light exposure: Research shows that blue light from fluorescent bulbs, LED bulbs, television, computer screens and our phones disrupt our circadian rhythm. This disruption can lead to the development of sleep disorders. When doing computer work, wear protective glasses that block out blue light. Limit screen time at home and avoid it 30 minutes before bed.
Manage how you react to other people's energy: Create an end of the day ritual before you leave work. Make the ritual a prayer or meditation, even if it only takes a minute. Focus on releasing the energy of the day so that you don’t take it home with you.
Create a better dinnertime: Make sure to carve out time for a healthy meal and sit down with no screen time to thoroughly enjoy eating.
Bedtime routine: About 30 minutes prior to going to sleep, include taking an herbal supplement remedy that supports sleep. Do some light stretches and a short 5-minute unwinding meditation or prayer (whatever calms you). Set the tone for a healthy circadian rhythm and remember not to use your phone right before bed.
Herbal Supplements for Sleep
The most underutilized tool for promoting restful, consistent, nightly “zzz’s” are herbal
supplements for sleep. Here are some of the top supplements that will help you get more rest in an all-natural way:
1. Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian root is one of the most popular herbal sleep aids out there. It’s an effective hypnotic and sedative that works by relaxing the nervous, musculoskeletal, and respiratory systems. Its characteristics may play a big part in helping you to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
2. Turmeric rhizome (Curcuma longa)
Turmeric is a highly effective antiinflammatory herb that is high in antioxidants and is protective to the liver. While you’re sleeping, it goes to work to repair and bring the body back to homeostasis. High levels of inflammatory agents in the body can disrupt sleep. Turmeric supplementation may help the body to lower inflammation, clear toxins and improve sleep.
3. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine, licorice root has gained popularity
in the last 10 years as an adaptogen. Adaptogen herbs help the body to manage all types of
stress. It is protective to the adrenal glands which play an important role in stress management.
One study suggests that extract of licorice root may improve both the time it takes to fall
asleep, the duration, and quality of sleep.
4. Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
This plant is commonly used for helping to manage anxiety due to stress. It has a strong
calming effect. A highly effective sleep agent, passionflower acts as a sedative. One study
showed it to lengthen the duration of sleep. It was also shown to induce sleep. Passionflower helps the muscles and mind to relax into a deeper state of restfulness.
5. California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
The California poppy is a more mild sedative, but effective nonetheless. It helps to relax the mind and body to promote healthy sleep patterns. It combines well with the other herbs listed and seems to work synergistically when paired with complementary natural sleep aids.
Integrate These Natural Sleep Aids into Your Daily Routine
With easy adjustments to your daily routine, you will be well on your way to sleeping better and
improving your ability to concentrate and manage stress at work. Experience the Power of
Nature with Soma Naturals pure herbal extracts. Our products aim to help you get a better night's rest, improve your work life, and enhance your overall well being.
SHOP VALERIAN ROOT
SHOP TURMERIC
SHOP LICORICE ROOT
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