evawhite on November 1st, 2008
You know I always thought that I should be able to get by on 6 hours of sleep, why should I need more; I am not a child. But this site here gave me some very interesting information about sleep and debunked some of the misconceptions that I harbored about sleep:
You need less sleep as you get older: Not true: all adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep everyday and a deficit can be a contributing factor to high blood pressure, diabetes and even weight gain! You need this basic quota of sleep for optimum performance health and safety.
In fact a surprising study found that there is a connection between childhood obesity and amount of sleep the children got. It was found that sleeping an extra hour a night reduced the chance of being overweight from 36 percent to 30 percent in young children, and from 34 percent to 30 percent in older children.
Adults don’t need afternoon naps: I thought I was weird in that I need a 15 to 20 minute nap in the afternoon that I wake up from completely refreshed and recharged. But it turns out that an afternoon nap not only is beneficial but can actually improve one’s memory, because sleep and specifically naps can help memory consolidation. Therefore the concept of a power nap I guess. That also validates my study methods during important exams: I used to study for say 3 to 4 hours and then nap for half an hour. It really seemed to work!
Exercise and sleep: I find that if I have had a sedentary day, I get the restless legs syndrome when I sleep at night, and if I have had my usual brisk walk for half an hour and had my usual active day, I sleep quite promptly and like a baby! I also finish dinner at least three hours before bed time as recommended. I suppose I have good habits and therefore no sleep problems. If you do however, check out these tips for getting a good night’s rest.
Snoring is annoying, but not a problem: Not true! So the next time you get a snorer as a co passenger in bus/train/plane, wake them up and tell them to get help because it isn’t just something that is annoying to others, it may be caused by sleep apnea and may be potentially dangerous.
evawhite on April 21st, 2008
Let’s do some girl talk today! I want to share with you some tips for skin care and hair care that I have found useful in my daily routine. I genuinely do practice all of these so they are tried and tested:
Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize : This one is a no brainer: you have to clean your skin properly if you want healthy skin. That does not mean you keep washing you face like six times a day. It just means that you use a gentle face wash rather than soap, and regularly. Also one thing I follow religiously: remove all make up before sleeping, no matter how late it is or how sleepy or wasted you may be! As for toning what I do is, use a cleanser cum toner, to save me time and effort. Toning is important simply because it helps in closing your pores which cleansing tends to open up. Moisturizing is not just for people with dry skin. Oily and combination skin also requires moisturizing, because moisturizing is about moisture and not oil. Just make sure that you use a product that is suitable for your skin type, so you don’t end up getting that shiny look.
Sun Block : Sun block is only for the beach. I use it every day even if I am indoors or if it is a cloudy day. Another of my own tips, I use an oil free moisturizer with a high SPFof 25 or so. Presto! Two in one. Sun block is not just about preventing skin darkening, it also prevents premature ageing and age spots to an extent.
Pay special attention to: the skin under the eyes and the lips. These areas have some of the thinnest and most sensitive skin of the body. Use lip balm to protect your lips and after the age of 35, a good under eye cream or gel is a good idea.
Beauty sleep : Don’t expect your skin to look dewy fresh is you are not refreshed yourself! Determine how much sleep your system needs (some people seem to manage fine with just 5 hours and some seem to need the full complement of 8 hours; I know I need 7 hours of restful sleep) and GET that sleep. If you skimp on your sleep, don’t be surprised if you wake up with the kind of bags under your eyes that you can go abroad with!
Hydrate yourself : Moisture comes from within the skin as well as from what you put on your skin. Drink enough water (some recommend 8 glasses a day). I drink as much as I want when I feel thirsty; so in peak summer it may be 4 to 5 liters of water a day, where as in winter it may only be 2 to 3 glasses.
Exercise : Even if it just a brink walk or a bike ride a few times a week, take the time out and do it! I am telling you, sweating it out is terrific for the skin and hair come to that. Also I have discovered that it is perfectly alright to wash your hair every other day or even every day, so long as you use a gentle shampoo. It’s a good idea to use baby shampoo!
Eat right : Include fresh fruit and raw veggies in your diet each day. Believe you me, munching on a raw carrot is a great snack and I don’t have to bother to cook it either! Fruit is also something that is easy to include in your diet, I simply replace the sweet at the end of the meal with the seasonal fruit. This is a great way to get kids to like their fruit and veggies too!
