I didn't sleep well for too many years... My youngest child didn't sleep through a single night for the first 11 years of his life. Add the duties of motherhood to the stress of a full time job at a hospital, and you can only begin to imagine how I felt, and even more discouraging: how I looked. At the time, I didn't even realize how much this was all negatively impacting me.

Now, I get made fun of because I make it a priority to get 8 hours of sleep. I'm in bed at 9pm - even on the weekends! Now that I've experienced the positive impact getting enough sleep has, no joke on my behalf will change my habit. For anyone who wants to make a step toward better health: make getting enough sleep your priority. You'll notice a difference within the first week - inside and out!

When we are well rested, our body is armed to fight stress and illness, wired to make healthy choices, and is visibly more vibrant. When lacking sleep, we are less likely to make good choices, our immune system is suppressed, and our dull skin and dark eyes make us look older. If you're tired, your body craves the quick energy boost you get from processed sugars, then the crash we experience from sugar highs creates even more cravings and diminishes any desire we have to exercise. It's a vicious cycle that affects our mood and, over time, may cause us to gain weight!

I'm a fan of attacking one challenge at a time. As I explained in my New Year's Resolution post on the 1st: committing to 1 new habit every month for the entire year will transform you and your health by the time 2017 arrives. Make your mini goal for January to get 8 hours of sleep at least 5 days a week. Once you achieve that, increase it to 6 days, then 7. Proper rest and recovery is your foundation for health and wellness. If you make it a priority you certainly won't regret it.