Lack of sleep is affecting Americans health immensely; it is making us physically and mentally sick, imbalanced and inflamed. Sleep is THE most important part of our healthcare regime.

Sleep is not selfish, it is no longer a badge of honor from our society; let’s learn to let that go. The first step to healthy, successful sleep is making sleep a priority, one of your top priorities. No more using the excuse “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”! Sleep is NOT a luxury, it is something we need to thrive and survive, it is necessary to our health and overall well-being.

In order to prioritize your sleep you must be mindful of your schedule, if your lack of sleep stems from being busy with life events, such as; a new job, a new baby, education or school, then you need to plan your sleep out. Write down in your calendar or phone what time you MUST go to bed – do a little math, plan to get those worthy 6-8 hours of sleep. However, we do know that not everything goes as planned, and teaching ourselves that is a mindful challenge. Like spending time with your family or eating a meal, prioritize, and plan your sleep schedule.

So stop putting sleep on the back burner, stop sacrificing sleep first. It’s time to realize that there is no such thing as a sleepless hero, that person simply does not exist. Finding balance within your healthy lifestyle practices is the key. Lifestyle is a delicate practice that is so easily challenged. Eat right, exercise, take time for you, and SLEEP.