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Up late studying, or a new parent? Sometimes life calls and we don’t get enough sleep. But five hours of sleep out of a 24-hour day isn’t enough, especially in the long term. According to a 2018 study of more than 10,000 people, the body’s ability to function declines if sleep isn’t in the seven- to eight-hour range. Researchers found verbal skills, reasoning skills, and overall ability to think weren’t at full capacity. Seven to eight hours of sleep per night is needed to perform your best at: communicating planning decision-making What’s the recommended amount of sleep? Many of us aren’t getting...

What are vivid dreams? While we think of sleep as a time for recharging the body, the brain is actually quite active during sleep — dreaming. Our dreams can be soothing or scary, mysterious or helpful, and realistic or fantastical. Sometimes we wake up and have no idea that we’ve dreamed, while other times, we can closely recall our dreams because they were so intense. These are known as vivid dreams. What causes vivid dreams? Brain scientists aren’t sure why humans dream in the first place, but they think it has something to do with memory. Dreaming might help the...

It’s no secret that exploring the great outdoors offers a myriad of health benefits, from increasing serotonin and vitamin D levels to decreasing stress and anxiety. There are some who even believe that getting back to nature — specifically while barefoot ­— can help neutralize the electric charge that runs through our bodies. The theory is that when our skin touches the earth, the earth’s charge can help reduce a number of ailments. This practice is known as “earthing.” While it’s not always possible to sink your toes into the sand or take a stroll around your backyard, sans footwear,...

Grounding is a practice that can help you pull away from flashbacks, unwanted memories, and negative or challenging emotions. These techniques may help distract you from what you’re experiencing and refocus on what’s happening in the present moment. You can use grounding techniques to help create space from distressing feelings in nearly any situation, but they’re especially helpful if you’re dealing with: anxiety post-traumatic stress disorder dissociation self-harm urges traumatic memories substance use disorder Physical techniques These techniques use your five senses or tangible objects — things you can touch — to help you move through distress. 1. Put your...

Sleep is the body’s recovery phase of the day. This is when muscles can repair, the brain can recharge, and other benefits occur that we still don’t fully understand.Studies show that insufficient sleep causes us to seek out high-calorie foods the next day. This can prolong the disrupted sleep cycle and result in poor overall health. New researchTrusted Source confirms what doctors have been saying for a long time: Food and sleep go hand in hand.There are some foods and small dietary changes you can incorporate into your day for a more restful night.   1. Chamomile tea Tea is...