Learn how to get a good night’s sleep
GETTING a good night’s sleep is a must for many people, but it is surprising just how many people struggle to get the recommended seven or eight hours a night, says HealthGuard Wellness doctor of chiropractic James MacKay.
“Poor sleep in the longterm increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer,” he said.
“In the short-term, productivity and creativity decreases, immunity defences are weakened and we are more likely to have an accident.
“The best thing though is sleep is free.
“You just need to learn how to optimise it.”
In a bid to help Toowoomba residents improve their sleep, Dr MacKay ran a free wellness workshop called Sleep 101.
It was so popular, they had to turn people away.
“We took it as a sign of a big need in our community,” he said.
“Too many people are struggling with sleep, which is a critical component of good health.”
To meet the demand, Dr MacKay is running his workshop again tonight.
During the workshop, he will explain the “science of sleep” – just what exactly sleep cycles were and the essential process that takes place when people sleep.
He will also share practical steps everyone can follow to get a better sleep.
“It’s doing things that tell your brain it’s time to sleep,” he said.
“Things that excite your brain reduce the amount of sleep you get so you do things to calm yourself instead.”
While he said the aim was to wake up before your alarm goes off, not all people were early risers.
“Not everyone springs out of bed ready for the day and that’s okay,” he said.