Good friends are good for your health. The key to improving your relationships and social confidence may be as easy as getting eight hours of uninterrupted sleep!
The subject of friendship has been on my mind lately as I recently got to celebrate my daughter and her horse Capri earning ribbons competing in their first horse show. They have such an amazing friendship built on trust (and a love of apples), and it brings me a lot of joy to watch them grow together. I feel very appreciative of the people in my life who helped make this dream a reality for her. My special relationships with family, neighbors, and colleagues is a source of profound positivity that puts a smile on my face on a daily basis. So, how wonderful it was to recently learn that there are studies to show we also sleep better when our social relationships are positive and healthy.
We have all experienced those restless nights when we feel stressed about a miscommunication or disagreement with someone earlier in the day. Sadly, less than positive interactions have a way of eating away at our subconscious, keeping us up at night and affecting our quality of sleep. We are less attentive and present. We do not take the time to tell others how much we love and appreciate them. When we don’t get enough sleep, we are also often on edge and irritable, leading us to be less empathetic and less likely to engage in effective conflict resolution. By making sleep a priority, other aspects of our life including relationships soon fall into line and improve as well.
Researchers also suggest that in a time of social distancing, many are struggling to sleep due to a lack of face-to-face interaction and limited social lives. While many other stress factors play a role in poor sleep during the pandemic, physical distance from our friends only adds fuel to the fire. Today, taking time to not only take care of ourselves, but to nurture our relationships with those around us is more important than ever.
Some ideas on easy ways to connect with people and get in sync with your sleep are:
Schedule time for game night with your household.
Set up a Zoom call with extended family or friends from out of state.
Leave a small present like a plant or flowers at a friend’s house.
Mail out handwritten “thinking of you” notes, even if it’s to the next door neighbor.
Participate in your vehicle’s friendly wave from fellow owners. (Corvette owners I’m waving at you!!)
Gather the family for a movie and snuggling up underneath the True Temp Blanket from Sleep Number. This blanket is large enough to comfortably spread across multiple people, and has the versatility to provide optimum comfort for hot or cold sleepers! From movie night, to fort building, to warmth and relaxation in all seasons, this blanket can do it all! Its temperature-regulating qualities will keep you cozy and content while you cherish those that are close to you.
Taking a little bit of time each week to feed these relationships will have you feeling more connected and relaxed, and therefore sleeping better in no time.
About Inventive Sleep, Inc.
Inventive Sleep is dedicated to helping people realize their dreams and goals starting with a great night’s sleep. Its founder, Sleep Products Innovator Tracy Laskowski Miller, is one of the most engaging and creative sleep wellness product inventors in the industry today. She is known for applying her unique perspective on sleep materials research to create and help people find their favorite bedding products. With more than two million sold since 2006, her engaging brands and sleep solutions are in homes and hotels across the country. The company is a leader in designing, inventing and marketing innovative combinations of comfort and technology to create brands and sleep products including sheets, pillows, comforters, blankets and mattress pads. Tracy is also the author of the weekly sleep blog Sleep Secrets and Inspirations. In it, Tracy is sharing her expertise on sleep materials research and design, and demystifying the sleep experience with an informative and fun-filled conversation on how sleep helps people with everyday living, as well as some of her tips and tricks on picking your favorite sleep products. For more information, visit www.inventivesleep.com Sleep Tonight. Create Tomorrow.™