New Years' REST-olutions for Dreaming of Sugar Plum Fairies

Let's be like these ballerinas. How in the world do we learn the way to a healthy anything? Healthy relationships... healthy eating habits, healthy stress coping stragegies, and last.... Wait, What? Last?

Hold up here! Why do we always seem to think of sleep and rest as the last resolution or step to a healthy life? (Other than the fact that most people sleep at the end of the night, before the next day of course?)

If you really think about it, to kick our bad patterns and lifestyles in the butt, like ballerina in line-up # 1, we must start by what we do at the end of the day ( or night ) to start our next day out just right.

Let's make this easy peasy lemon squeezy and learn from the sugar plum fairies we dream of and love composer Tchaikovsky for, how to create a healthy sleep cycle and make the BEST New Years REST-olutions EVER!!!

After all, you can't succeed in life if you're running on empty (and this includes sleep.) Even the sugar plum fairies can't sugar coat that one for you, Doll!

Let's start with the science! Good, plentiful healthy rest improves short term memory, leaves you refreshed, and lets your body recoop from the day, recover cells, cell growth, and even increases height growth in yet growing teens and pre teens. Sleep has many benefits, including replenishing brain cells, neurons and the processing of life, events and preparing you for others with warnings though dreams. (Even if you're dreaming about Sugar Plum Fairies, the interpretations vary.) I suggest you could translate that as a need to eat healthier sugars like that from fresh fruits such as plums which are also rich in fibers and a part of the rainbow in a full range healthy diet. Also, you could interpret this as receiving the positive benefits from already engaging in such a healthy diet, rather than feeling lethargic, from unhealthy sugars, or bouncing off the walls from mountain dew..,. Rising to great heights in life at the start of the new year does not necessarily mean climbing Mountain Dew's peak of sugar highs!

Speaking of exercise and mountain climbing, workouts are proven to get the body ready to be tired and in a state of rest. Exercise programs to get in a routine of long term exercise ranging from 4 to 24 weeks, are proven to help folks with insomnia get to sleep faster, stay asleep longer, and have higher quality of sleep than before. Now, what types of exercise? GREAT QUESTION! I suggest varying your workout but keeping a common denominator, like your favorite form of experimental exercise or the one that works you and your body the most and keeps you wanting to exercise. Motivation is hard enough! You could follow the example of dangly ballerina # 1 and kick butt with martial arts and Tai Quan Do, or Ju Jitsu.

Mimic the example of sugar plum fairy Ballerina #2 and become your best cheerleader. Five, Six, Seven, Eight! Destroy destructive sleep patterns that I hate! Seven eight, nine and ten! I'm changing those patterns so I can begin renewed, again!

Aerobics, swimming or dance are always nice. Whether that's Just Dance, Zumba, a Ballet workout, hip hop, or a professional dance class at a studio, is up to you. Bonus if you play the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies during your workout routine before sleep. It's always good to stretch your muscles before and after each workout; remember, make you -- not break you, during the New Years Rest-olutions. It's not the Summer Olympics, you daring resolution setting people. And you need to be in it to win it, not regret your whole pact to a better you by breaking a ham string or the like. To stretch muscles affectively, training you and your body to be prepared to work out is necessary. I would recommend yoga or pilates in order to train your muscles properly to stretch.

If these are too hard to learn or you do not have access to resources, a simple calf stretch against a wall, with your toes on the edge of your wall, knee forward, and other leg back straight. hold for 30 seconds and then alternate legs, repeating 3-5 reps or more as comfortable the longer you do your daily workout routine. Complete 3 reps of a sitting stretch to your toes - or beyond if flexible. Legs bent, toes pointed, then flexed, then pointed for round 3, ballerina style. Reach for your toes like you're reaching for the stars that you are, and hold for 5 or 10 seconds -which ever builds a warm stretch that isn't too uncomfortable. TRUST your feelings as much as your guts!

A third stretch is a butterfly stretch. It's like sitting Indian style, except that the soles of your bare feet are together, and your legs are as flat as your thick thighs that save lives will allow, and you lean over your butterfly legs as your body allows for a nice, long even stretch. This is a good opener and builder of flexibility.

The butterfly stretch is also good for meditation - another healthy sleep routine tip. I would suggest playing a pretty music accompaniment piece with flute or clarinet background, perhaps saxophone if a soft playing cafe jazz or blues does it for you during meditation. And say a phrase about growth and change transforming you. Butterflies are symbolic of transformation, newness and health, even rebirth. Repeat a reaffirming positive statement about yourself. "I am becoming the best me I can be"

Or: "I am transforming myself into a beautiful rainbow colored butterfly in my own stage of metamorphosis"

Or even, "I am stretching before climbing into my sleep cocoon. When I awake, I will have transformed myself through true rest after my dreamy metamorphosis cycle is over. This is my New Years' Rest-olution! So mote it be."

Ballerina and Sugar Plum Fairy # 3 wants you to know to put those glitzy lit magic wands away... the ones called phones, laptops, tablets, and video game devices.... Sorry, but Mario Kart is not a healthy pre sleep routine.

Not only will the light destroy your body's natural levels of melatonin - a healthy sleep chemical you produce for rest, but it will keep you awake longer and give you restless slumber. What a bummer!

One article I researched for healthy habit and tips suggests that you only do sex and sleep in your bedroom. The only magic wand you may take with you to bed, is therefore a vibrator or sex toys - but not plugins or electronics. Whether you use these with a partner or by yourself is not specified by the article. Just be safe and know that I am a blogger that is citing my resources as reference to scientific facts, not a medical doctor or professional. (I am a first responder though).

Bonus brownie points if you THINK PINK and match the Ballerina Sugar Plum Fairy outfits with your choice of magic wands or pajamas. Wearing comfortable clothes YOU feel comfortable in, not just what someone else wants, is key to building confidence and to a better sleep routine. If you hate flannel, or if that t shirt itches, then throw it in the ditches - or the trash can, to help keep our earth clean and green. Wear what you like to sleep in that works for you, boo!

If you want to read more tips, go to sleep foundation (A One Care Media Company). Having sex at a time that doesn't disturb your need for sleep is most likely what that means - I know for some survivors of PTSD or sexual trauma need sleep and sex to be separate at times. This does NOT give license for others to touch you inappropriately, after you have slept or have non consensual sex. I do not advocate for people to take advantage of other people and misinterpret or bend these sleep rules to their advantage. Always be considerate of others, and kind, please. (In other words, only sleep activities in the bedroom, but be respectful if you share a room with someone else.)

And leave those magic wand cursors on our blogs off during sleep or a laptop you blog on in a separate room. Even if you are blogging and contributing to the sleep resolutions article, don't cheat by blogging when you should sleep! Not everything can be waved away with a magic wand, but putting them in the other room should definitely help, and is proven by studies and scientific research to help. Let the real magic be felt when you can feel a truly rested difference in your sleep!

*In regards to the electronics rule, I do believe that for some, an exception could/should be made for electric blankets, if this is needed for quality sleep during a cold winter, as well as alarm clocks - if you have work early and wake up with those. Other than that, electronics OUT! Rules aren't supposed to hinder or set aside other important things in life. Follow the rules like a guideline rather than a strict rule book that allows no creative flow. Everyone is different and has differing needs. You do you, boo!*

Ballerina number 4 is a representation of who you are and will be after your sleep has been changed and transformed. The wand is flipped in the other hand, and she is more confident, smiley, comfortable, and poised - ready for her day and year, with bountiful energy and cheer.

And these are my contributions to New Years Rest-olutions for a better you - guided by science, things that have worked for me in the past, and of course, the Sugar Plum Fairies pictured above. Fempower is flowing through this article. But feminism is about being equal with each other - regardless or orientation, gender or status in society. So, whoever you are, male, female, non - binary, (or yay to the LGBTQIA!) Follow your heart, your routine, dreams and goals - and feel free to add to what examples are here in this article, to build a better, New Years' REST - olutioned you, that you love!