Are you feeling what has been described as the "chronic slump?"

Between increased stress, feeling overworked (and over worried), sleep deprivation and a “sitting epidemic” it’s no wonder that people are constantly feeling fatigued and reaching for another cup of coffee. With our focus this month being Continuous Health we felt it imperative to discuss ways to help improve daytime energy and focus. Plus, how CBD can help with getting you out of the “chronic slump”.
One of the biggest things we can do to support our energy is to get real restful sleep. In fact, many adults who get a full eight hours of sleep still wake up feeling tired! When we wake up already feeling exhausted it’s very difficult to go “up” from there without stimulants. It turns out that relying on stimulants is another thing that can get in your way of having truly restful sleep. Caffeine has been shown to limit the amount of deep, slow-wave sleep. This deep, slow-wave sleep is a vital stage in helping us wake up feeling refreshed for the day ahead, as well as giving our bodies time to perform critical functions. Caffeine also blocks our adenosine receptors in the brain. Adenosine is produced during the day (the longer you’re awake, the more you make) and the more adenosine you build up, the sleepier you become at the end of the day. This is why consuming caffeine can disrupt your ability to feel tired at bedtime. Research shows us that reducing screen time before bed, limiting caffeine intake to a mid-day cut off, creating a consistent sleep/wake schedule, and consuming CBD before bed can make a huge difference in your daytime energy.
We are also facing the “Sitting Disease”. With sedentary jobs on the rise since the 1950’s (an 83% increase according to the American Heart Association) the disadvantages to sitting for even just 30 minutes at a time have become more and more apparent. Besides raising the risk for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, deep-vein thrombosis, and metabolic syndrome, it also reduces our energy. It’s recommended to stand up and move every 20-30 minutes (even just for a minute!) to stretch and wake up our big muscle groups in our legs. It is also recommended to take this time to give your eyes a break from your screen, which can help you become more focused when you come back to your current task. Some other tips for helping to manage a “sitting epidemic” are to take your phone calls standing or walking, consider getting an adjustable or standing desk, get up and move during commercials on TV, take the stairs, and set a reminder to stretch throughout the workday.
Managing stress is a huge contributing factor when it comes to daytime energy and focus. Stress-induced emotions and hormonal surges require large amounts of our energy just to get by, let alone to feel engaged and energized for the day. Studies have shown that CBD can have a positive impact on your relationship with both chronic and acute anxiety and stress. Can you imagine how much more work you could get done if you weren't distracted and exhausted by stress?! Having other outlets like talking to someone about your concerns, limiting caffeine, increasing daily movement, and consuming a well-balanced diet are other ways to have a healthier relationship with your stress response.
Products We Recommend:
L8 Seltzers with Reishi $6.50- $36
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