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Do you want to sleep well? Fix these 8 morning habits

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How to sleep well, How to sleep better, sleep hygiene, sleep habits, insomnia, how to beat insomnia, theGrio.com

When we take into consideration sleep habits, we often consider the activities involved in falling asleep, not the morning rush. And while it’s true that evening sleep hygiene could be the difference between success and failure, the habits we develop earlier within the day can even impact how rested we feel after we get up. If you want to sleep well, how you spend your mornings matters.

“Morning habits can have a huge impact on sleep quality because they can impact your 24-hour sleep-wake cycle,” she says Po-Chang HsuM.D., M.S. Here are the morning habits which may be ruining your sleep and what to do as an alternative to dramatically improve your sleep quality.

1. Problem: Waking up too early

It could appear obvious that waking up too early disrupts your sleep – sure, if we’re not sleeping, we’re not sleeping, but it surely also seems that depriving yourself of a number of critical hours of sleep within the morning can contribute to trouble before bed. “Early morning awakening is a common feature of insomnia,” he says Carleara WeissPh.D., M.S.H., R.N.

“Sometimes, due to academic or professional demands, we set the alarm to wake up too early to beat traffic, get the kids ready for school, or attend morning classes,” says the certified sleep science trainer Alex Savy. “This causes the body to tire quickly, and a cat nap later in the day can accidentally turn into full daytime sleep. This habit may disrupt your sleep cycle and make it difficult to sleep at night.”

What to do as an alternative: Weiss suggests adjusting your schedule to allow for seven to nine hours of sleep and establishing morning routines that do not require getting up within the early morning hours. Waking up early is less problematic if it follows an adequate amount of sleep, and if the realities of labor or family situations don’t allow for less painful wake-ups, daytime naps are high-quality, but don’t overdo it, says Savy. “A daytime nap lasting longer than 30 minutes can affect sleep at night.”

2. Problem: Snooze alarm going off

A couple of extra 10-minute stretches of sleep could appear to improve your rest, however the snooze alarm is not your friend.

“While it may be tempting to sleep for another 10 minutes, hitting the snooze button does more harm than good,” Weiss says. “Feeling sluggish and groggy, slow to react, and slow to think are some of the harmful effects of a snooze alarm.”

Additionally, in case your body gets used to anticipating an early alarm and a number of naps, this can potentially be followed by restlessness and stress during sleep, which also affects sleep quality.

What to do as an alternative: A signal to the brain and body that when the alarm goes off, it is time to get up. Turn on the sunshine, sit down immediately and get away from bed quickly. It could also be helpful to place your alarm clock out of reach, so you’ll have to stand up to turn it off.

3. Problem: Uneven wake-up time

Even though sleeping in it seems luxurious, it may do more harm than good. “Waking up at uneven times every day can alter your circadian rhythm, causing sleep problems, disruptions, and overall poorer sleep quality,” says Hsu.

What to do as an alternative: For a number of weeks, go to bed and get up at the identical time daily (yes, even on the weekend). While it is probably not easy at first, once you get into the habit, you may find that you drift off faster and get up feeling more rested – perhaps even without an alarm clock. You may find that your need for sleep goes away as you feel more rested overall.

4. Problem: Working in bed

“For freelancers or those working from home, it can be delightful to wake up in bed, grab a cup of coffee, grab your Mac on the bedside table, and start your workday right in your pajamas,” says Savy. However, working in bed worsens the standard of sleep since the brain begins to associate this space with mental activity, he warns.

What to do as an alternative: Use your bed just for sleeping (and sex). You can still work in your pajamas, but do it at your desk.

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5. Problem: being at the hours of darkness (literally)

The hormones melatonin and cortisol help you go to sleep and get up respectively, and light-weight affects each. Exposure to light stimulates the production of cortisol, giving our body a signal that it is time to be alert. If your room is dark within the morning and you don’t search for light throughout the day, it might affect your sleep hormones.

“The brain responds to changes in light throughout the day,” Hsu says. Providing loads of daylight within the morning may also help people keep their body clocks functioning properly and sleep higher. Conversely, insufficient exposure to light throughout the day may cause disruption of the circadian rhythm and, consequently, reduced sleep quality.

What to do as an alternative: Turn on the bedroom light when it is time to stand up, or open the curtains when the sun comes up. Dim the lights within the evening and avoid excessive light exposure from screens near bedtime.

6. Problem: Lack of a consistent morning routine

In addition to not having a consistent wake-up time, the dearth of a wake-up routine could make you feel drained and lack concentration throughout the day, Weiss says. “Irregular wake-up times and rushing out of the house as soon as you wake up don’t give your brain and body enough time to adjust the transition from sleep to wakefulness,” she says.

It’s also not a great idea to spend too long in bed after waking up. “Don’t spend more than 20 minutes in bed after the first alarm,” Savy advises. If you need a moment between waking up and getting up, you higher use it meditatereflecting on the day ahead without your phone and practicing gratitude.

What to do as an alternative: Weiss advises creating a straightforward morning routine and sticking to it. Again, habits are formed through repetition, so after a number of days of consistency, you’ll start doing things with increasing ease.

“Our body works like a clock, and consistency is the key to good health,” says Weiss. “Use the primary hour after waking up to establish a synchronized circadian rhythm that may keep you focused throughout the day and help you sleep higher at night. This could be achieved not only by waking up at the identical time daily, but additionally by trying to exercise and eat breakfast at the identical time daily.

Your morning routine doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming, just do the identical things in the identical order and at the identical time daily, even when it’s just showering, eating breakfast and brushing your teeth.

7. Problem: Drinking coffee too early

This may appear to be bad news if you depend on your morning cup of brew to help you get up, however the delay itself could make a difference. “Caffeine is known to wake the body and energize the mind, but drinking it before 11 a.m. is counterproductive to sleep at night,” says Savy. “Many studies have shown that coffee can interfere with the production of cortisol, the morning hormone that takes over the function of melatonin after an all-night shift. Peak cortisol production occurs between 8 and 9 a.mbut drinking coffee interferes with this natural regeneration process.”

What to do as an alternative: Try drinking coffee a bit of later within the morning and see if it makes you feel more rested. You haven’t got to do it unexpectedly – turn the clock back 10 or quarter-hour until you feel comfortable having it later. But not too late: avoid caffeine within the afternoon if possible stay in your system for 8 hours and even longer and interrupt sleep.

8. Problem: Not making the bed

Mess is related to stress and dissatisfaction with lifeso cleansing could be done good on your mental health. “Never leave your bed untidy when you wake up in the morning,” says Savy. “It’s likely to stay that way when it’s time to sleep.” The barely chaotic mood of an unmade bed can throw you off balance when it is time to rest.

What to do as an alternative: Make your bed as soon as you stand up. If you have busy mornings, be certain that you haven’t got too many pillows or other things to arrange that might make the method time-consuming.

This article was originally published in Clean plates.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Health and Wellness

Health matters: WNBA star Napheesa Collier on her commitment to women’s reproductive health

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Minnesota lynx

Napheesa Collier will not be only a WNBA superstar for the Minnesota Lynx and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, but additionally the mother of her daughter Mila and an advocate for women’s reproductive health rights.

It recently decided to partner with Opill®, the primary and only every day contraceptive pill available over-the-counter within the United States. This breakthrough represents a major step forward in women’s health care by providing a convenient and accessible contraceptive option. With Opill, women not need to visit health care facilities for prescriptions, making it easier than ever to take control of their reproductive health.

The collaboration relies on Opill®’s long-standing partnership with the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). “One of the reasons Opill® partnered with the WNBA is the great passion of players who use their platform to support causes they believe in,” said Leila Bahbah, leading women’s health brand at Perrigo within the US. “Napheesa exudes this passion, and together we plan to educate and empower people to take control of their reproductive health.”

Collier advocates for girls and says she is willing to have conversations, even in the event that they are difficult. “I just truly believe in everything they do at Opill®. I believe it’s important to talk to people who may become pregnant and to women about the reproductive health and contraceptive options available to them,” Collier tells ESSENCE.

He continues: “I want people to know that if they want contraception, Opill® is a great option. It is the first over-the-counter drug approved by the FDA. It is inexpensive, available. You don’t need a prescription to get it. I think that’s a key thing in today’s climate.”

Collier notes that within the off-season, he tries to travel to various colleges to talk to students about their reproductive freedoms. “Talking about this topic is essential to remove the stigma as it should not be considered a shameful topic or something that should not be discussed openly. My mother was a nurse, so it was casual to talk about it in our house, and I want to pass it on to other people too, so I’m very excited about it,” she says.

In the present political climate, many ladies with daughters are concerned about their future and reproductive health. Collier, included. “Especially because I am the mother of a young girl, it is very important to me to be able to raise her in an atmosphere where she knows her reproductive rights and health, that she has access to affordable health care and contraception if she wants it and that she can ask me these questions and have open conversations.”

Collier continues: “It’s back to education. Again, I think it’s harmful that we can’t have open conversations about birth control and other issues that are usually taboo. I think it’s harmful. I think this does a lot of harm to women. It hurts. This is harmful to our society. Being able to talk about these issues and empowering women to learn about their rights and bodies creates a safer and healthier society.”

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Yes, despite what you’ve heard on TikTok, you still need to use sunscreen

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Summer is nearly here. But as an alternative of using sunscreen, some TikTokers just do that encouraging followers throw it away and forgo sunscreen.

They argue that it’s healthier to forgo sunscreen to get the complete advantages of the sun.

Here’s what the science really says.

How does sunscreen work?

Due to the acute UV environment in Australia, most individuals with pale to olive skin or other risk aspects for skin cancer must accomplish that protect yourself. Applying sunscreen is a key approach to protecting areas that aren’t easily covered by clothing.

Sunscreens work by absorbing or scattering UV rays before they reach the skin and damage DNA or supporting structures corresponding to collagen.

In this photo I (Katie) apply sunscreen only to the appropriate side of my face. Sunscreens absorb and scatter UV light (right side), although it can’t be seen with the naked eye (left side). The photo on the appropriate also shows where sun spots (dark spots) accumulate on my skin and where I do not care to apply sunscreen evenly – under the attention, on the cheek and completely missing the ear.
The creator provided/UQ

When UV molecules hit DNA, the surplus energy can damage our DNA. This damage might be repaired, but when the cell divides before the error is repaired, it causes a mutation that may lead to skin cancer.

The energy of the UV particle (photon) causes the DNA strands to break and reconnect incorrectly. This causes a tumor within the DNA strand, which makes accurate copying difficult and might introduce mutations.
NASA/David Herring

The most typical skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Melanoma is less common but most definitely spreads throughout the body; this process known as metastasis.

Two against three At least the Australians will one skin cancer during their lives they usually reconcile 80% all cancers in Australia.

About 99% of skin cancers in Australia are attributable to overexposure to UV radiation.

Excessive exposure to UV radiation also affects the looks of the skin. UVA rays are able to penetrate deep into the skin, where they break down supporting structures corresponding to elastin and collagen.

This causes signs premature agingcorresponding to deep wrinkles, brown or white spots and broken capillaries.

Sunscreen may also help prevent skin cancer

Consistently used sunscreen reduces the danger of skin cancer and slows skin aging.

In Queensland studyparticipants either used sunscreen day by day for nearly five years or continued their usual use.

After five years, the danger of squamous cell cancer was reduced within the day by day group 40% compared to the second group.

Ten years later, the danger of developing invasive melanoma was reduced within the group of individuals taking the drug day by day 73%

Do sunscreens block the health-promoting properties of sunlight?

The answer is a little more complicated and involves a personalised risk-benefit trade-off.

First, the excellent news: spending time within the sun has many health advantages don’t rely under the influence of UV radiation and aren’t affected by the use of sunscreens.

A woman applies sunscreen
Sunscreens only filter out UV rays, not all light.
Ron Lach/Pexels

Sunscreens only filter UV rays, not visible light or infrared light (which we feel as heat). Importantly, a number of the advantages of sunlight are obtained through Eyes.

Visible light improves mood and regulates and possibly reduces circadian rhythm (which influences the sleep-wake cycle). myopia (myopia) in children.

Infrared light is being researched as a treatment for several conditions skin, neurological, psychiatric AND autoimmune disorders.

So what is the good thing about exposing your skin to UV radiation?

Sun exposure produces vitamin D, which is crucial for healthy bones and muscles.

Vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common amongst Australians, peaking in Victoria at 49% in winter and lowest in Queensland at 6% in summer.

Fortunately, individuals who deal with sun protection can avoid vitamin D deficiency taking a complement.

Skin exposure to UV radiation could have advantages independent of vitamin D production, but these haven’t been proven. It may reduce the danger of autoimmune diseases corresponding to multiple sclerosis or cause the discharge of a chemical that may lower blood pressure. However, there aren’t enough details about these advantages to say whether sunscreen can be an issue.

What does this mean for you?

Exposure of the skin to UV radiation may provide some advantages that could be blunted by sunscreens. This determines whether it’s value giving up these advantages to avoid skin cancer how susceptible you have skin cancer.

If you have pale skin or other aspects that increase your risk of skin cancer, try to use sunscreen day by day on all days when the forecast UV index reaches 3.

If you have darker skin that rarely or never burns, you might want to skip using sunscreen on daily basis – although you’ll still need protection when you’re outdoors for prolonged periods of time.

For now, the balance of evidence suggests that it is healthier for people susceptible to skin cancer to proceed using sunscreen, supplementing with vitamin D as needed.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Recipe for change: eliminating health disparities and economic empowerment – the essence

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Via Griffin/Getty Images

Throughout the 12 months, the Global Black Economic Forum held quite a few select conversations focused on solutions to the most pressing economic and social issues facing marginalized communities. One of those issues – too often missed – is the link between Black health and wealth. If we do not start eliminating health disparities and inequalities today, we cannot give you the chance to construct wealth for the future.

This intersection was the focus of an event we hosted in August as a part of our cooking talk series. It was held on Martha’s Vineyard, round the corner National Medical Scholarships (NMF), the Black World Economic Forum had the opportunity to satisfy with NMF’s unapologetic leader, Michellene Davis. Recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as certainly one of the 25 most influential minority leaders in healthcare, Michellene’s profession has involved policy advocacy and social change.

Her organization is devoted to increasing the variety of Black, Indigenous and physicians of color through fellowships, service-learning programs, mentoring opportunities and clinical research leadership training.

The conversation revealed two easy and interconnected data points: In the next decade, the United States will experience:huge shortage of doctors while becoming a majority non-white nation. These two trends highlight the need for greater diversity on this field. Studies have shown that patients of color see racially and ethnically diverse physicians. Treatment results are frequently higher.

However, the percentage of black doctors in the US is growing at an alarmingly slow rate – it has only increased by 4% over the last 120 years.. In the face of conservatives’ regressive and destructive attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, there has never been a greater need for us to redouble these efforts. The more we are able to improve health outcomes, the higher we’ll give you the chance to seize and compete for economic opportunities in the future. Given the urgent need to deal with health care workforce disparities and their direct impact on Black economic outcomes, it’s equally essential to acknowledge the broader economic opportunities that may drive wealth creation in our communities.

The competition for certainly one of the best economic opportunities in the history of tourism and hospitality – the 2026 FIFA World Cup – was the focus of our other curated conversation. Organized round the corner East Point Congress and Visitors Bureau, we sat down with its president, Chantel Francois. In her position, she is responsible for the development of the tourism industry in the city of East Point, Georgia. Previously, she led economic development and tourism promotion efforts in Atlanta, Trinidad and Tobago.

Francois described how local businesses run by entrepreneurs of color can leverage global events like the FIFA World Cup to extend their brand visibility, increase sales, and even start their very own businesses. She emphasized the importance of partnerships with event organizers, teams and athletes in constructing company awareness. This cooperation can also be crucial as the city government works with many stakeholders to make sure the safety of tourists and maximum economic opportunities for the area people.

When it involves such major events, it is usually essential to instill a way of community pride in each sector wherein an organization competes. This pride translates into a robust bond with travelers that may make them proceed to interact with small businesses or spark curiosity in them to learn more about the community. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has the potential to place tens of millions of dollars into the pockets and communities of individuals of color, and it’s crucial for businesses to begin planning now in the event that they have not already.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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