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No matter what your goals are, you have a better chance of achieving them if you are getting regular, quality sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, you’re not alone. The American Association of Sleep Apnea reports sleep-related problems affect 50-70 million Americans.
If you are ready to improve your sleep habits and make lasting change, but are unsure where to start - we have good news. Getting a Missouri medical marijuana card could be the difference between tossing and turning and starting your days refreshed, recharged, and ready to tackle whatever the day has in store.
A good night’s sleep sets the foundation for success.
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep. It is recommended that adults between the age of 18-60 get at least seven hours per night to promote optimal health. If you’re averaging less, you are at higher risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and other conditions.
On the converse, making a good night’s sleep a regular habit can help you stay focused throughout the day, with the energy to smash your list of goals. Here are just a few things that are easier when you’re well-rested:
Making Healthy Food Choices
If you’re exhausted, you are setting yourself up to make poor nutritional choices. The Cleveland Clinic published a study detailing how getting more shut-eye can help fight off those junk food cravings.
People who are exhausted tend to reach for foods that give them a quick rush of energy - usually foods high in sugar or fat. Those who are feeling lethargic often think in the short-term, choosing foods that will help them get through the moment, rather than selecting items with long-term health benefits.
Whether you are trying to lose weight or simply make health conscious choices, being well-rested will enhance your focus and put your body into a state where you’re ready to choose foods that have your long range goals in mind.
Working Out
Being well-rested may seem like a no-brainer when it comes to athletic performance. If you’re tired, you have less energy, drive, and focus, which makes it difficult to get the most out of your exercise routine. But, being well-rested does even more than provide you with energy. It heals and grows your muscles after a workout.
Any well-educated personal trainer will tell you how important recovery is to an exercise plan. Your body needs time to repair itself after strenuous activity, and it does most of this work while you sleep. While we are asleep, our body produces growth hormone, which is essential for athletic recovery. If you’re not sleeping well, you’re sabotaging your fitness goals - plain and simple.
Workplace Performance
Want to stand out among the crowd and get that promotion? A good night’s sleep will help you to be at your best. Sleep helps boost your mood, enhances your mental health, and brain function. Without a good night’s sleep, you simply aren’t going to perform to your fullest potential.
Conversely, coming to work exhausted increases your chances of making a mistake, overlooking details, being in a bad mood, and puts you at greater risk for a workplace accident.
Love Life
If you are having a rocky time in your relationship, Dr. Theresa E. DiDonato of Psychology Today believes it may be caused by not getting the rest that you need. In a recent editorial, she explains how sleep affects your love life. Sleep deprivation impairs good decision making and hurts your sense of humor - both of these are crucial in maintaining romantic harmony.
She goes on to explain that a lack of sleep increases the chance of conflict in a relationship. Studies have even shown that looking sleep deprived can also make you less attractive. They don’t call it “beauty sleep” for nothing.
Tips to improve your sleep habits.
Getting better sleep isn’t something that magically happens. You need a plan to set yourself up for success. Here are some things you can do to ensure that you’re getting regular, quality sleep:
Plan Ahead
When choosing activities and planning your evening, set yourself up for success by scheduling sleep into your calendar in the same way you would an important meeting or event. Make sleep a priority. It isn’t free-time. It’s recovery time.
Have a bedtime.
You’re an adult. That means you’re in charge. No parent can tell you when to go to bed. But, you know you have goals to achieve. So, you’ll need to set your own bedtime. Studies have shown that having a standard bedtime and wake-up time help your body get used to the routine, making it easier to regularly fall asleep.
Pro tip: Set yourself up for success by setting a bedtime reminder on your phone. When the reminder chimes, show up for yourself by following through and heading to bed. Do this on weekends, too. This will help your body avoid the jet lag that comes with a sporadic sleep schedule, helping you get a head start on Monday morning.
Avoid stimulants before bed.
Caffeine, nicotine, and sugar can wake your body up, making it difficult to settle down and get the rest you need. Avoid high-energy stimulants several hours before sleep so that you don’t spend the night tossing and turning.
Stop the scroll.
Once you are in bed, set the phone down. Make the bed a “NO PHONE ZONE.” The blue light that your phone screen emits actually stops your body from releasing melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep cycle.
Also - social media and email wake your brain up and increase alertness. You don’t want your mind racing as you are trying to sleep. Instead of scrolling, put your phone on airplane mode or Do Not Disturb. If you need something to take your mind away, consider a sleep meditation app, like Calm or Headspace.
How can marijuana help with sleep?
If you are someone who has a difficult time getting to sleep, medical marijuana may be exactly what you need. There are several conditions that may get in the way of sleep that cannabis can be helpful with.
Medical marijuana promotes an overall sense of wellbeing, helping you fall asleep and stay asleep. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that many people with sleep disorders prefer cannabis to traditional over-the-counter sleep aids.
Marijuana promotes an overall sense of relaxation. For those who suffer from chronic pain, cannabis can provide relief, allowing them to get the rest they need. Those suffering from anxiety will be glad to know that cannabis is an effective tool that may ease those anxious thoughts and let them relax at the end of the day.
As you put together your sleep plan, it is worth considering adding medical marijuana to your nighttime routine. Cannabis has been shown to provide overall relaxation to promote sleep, so you can be your best as you face whatever tomorrow brings.
Your pillow will thank you.
Your body deserves to start each day refreshed. If you’re ready to see if cannabis is the key to getting a good night’s sleep, you’ll need a Missouri medical marijuana card. We can help with that. Our doctors are standing by to take you through a quick and easy evaluation to see if you qualify. Schedule an appointment with a marijuana professional online by CLICKING HERE, or give us a call at (877) 303-3117 to talk to a patient support representative.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Missouri Marijuana Card, our mission is helping everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (877) 303-3117, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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