While it may not feel like the fall season we see in movies or in some colder parts of this country, we’ve officially made it through the dog days of summer. Halloween candy is already being sold, summer clothes are being put away, and as of just a few day ago, we’ve officially welcomed in another fall season – one of our favorites here at Dr. Gena Chiropractic.

But while fall, for many of us, conjures up images of jack-o-lanterns and festive thanksgiving dinners, there is one thing on our minds as the leaders of chiropractic care in Plantation:

SLEEP!

And not just because we’ve been working hard to serve our community’s needs – we’re not that tired, we swear. But in just a few weeks we’ll be turning our clocks back one hour and gaining something vital instead.

Hint: It’s not the dreaded holiday weight gain.

We’re talking about an extra hour of snooze time. A full sixty minutes to cozy up in that delicious bed of yours. A whopping 3,600 seconds to hug that pillow a little longer and dream a little deeper. A little extra darkness to get you the mood to restore your mind, body, and spirit.

And thank goodness, because we’re still smack dab in the middle of a major sleep crisis.

As we reported during daylight savings time this year, Americans are a very tired group of people. And while losing sleep can have incredibly harmful impacts on our health, gaining that one hour of sleep can turn it all around, taking you from groggy and miserable to perked up and on the path to good health.

I know what you’re thinking – getting a good night’s sleep is just too hard, right? There’s children who don’t sleep through the night. Work worries on the brain. That thing that happened with what’s-her-name that has you tossing and turning into the wee hours of the morning.

We get it, life happens.

But at Dr. Gena Chiropractic, we want to share with you our tried and true tricks for getting a restorative night’s sleep and taking advantage of the hour we’ll be gaining. It’s like a gift from the wellness gods, and we’d hate to see it go to waste.

1. Be consistent

According to The Sleep Foundation, setting a sleep schedule, and sticking to it, is one of the top ways to get your sleeping habits back on track. Find a reasonable time to hit the hay and make it a habit, even on weekends and stressful days. Consistency is the key to any long-lasting positive change.

2. Set the mood

There’s a reason why spa sessions involve very little light, delicious scents, and luxurious bedding: to relax you! Treat your bedroom like a nightly spa appointment. Dim the lights well before you make your way under the covers. Use lavender essential oils on your pulse points and on your pillow to help ease anxiety and insomnia to lull you to sleep. Splurge on that yummy throw blanket to cuddle up with. Your body, and senses, will thank you.

3. Exercise daily

Feeling too stressed to sleep? There’s nothing that relieves stress and tension like a vigorous workout. Try to work in a daily exercise regimen if time allows – even a light workout will do.

4. Eat light and right

While a heavy, fatty, meal might make you feel like you’re entering a sleep coma, this is the quickest way to interrupt a good night’s sleep. No one likes being woken up in the middle of the night by heartburn or indigestion. Feeding your body right and avoiding extra rich, fatty, or spicy foods before bedtime, can make all the difference in how well your body rests and repairs itself.

And of course, make visits to Dr. Gena Chiropractic, a greater Fort Lauderdale family chiropractor, part of your wellness routine. In fact, better sleep is one of the most commonly reported side effects upon first starting a wellness program at Dr. Gena’s – and who can say no to that?!

From all of us at Dr. Gena Chiropractic, we wish you a happy and healthy fall season, full of sleep and healthy living. Remember, your health is in your hands, but our hands are here to help.