8 Sleep Hacks That Will Put You Right to Bed

If you're groggy throughout the day, it might be because you're not getting good sleep. Quality snooze time is important, as it sets the pace for the rest of the day. To help you get great sleep, we've found some hacks that you might not know about. We found it fitting to illustrate these tips with the masters of snooze, aka cute animals.

1. Your last cup of coffee should be at 2 p.m. 

The half-life of caffeine, or the time it takes for the average person to get rid of half the caffeine in their system, is about five to seven hours. To get rid of 75 percent of the caffeine in your body, it will take eight to 10 hours. Drinking later in the day can generally interfere with your sleep.

2. Move your favorite night activities to the morning.

Maybe you stay up late to indulge in activities you enjoy, such as scrolling through Reddit or reading a book. Instead of putting off precious sleep for these time-wasters, do them first thing in the morning instead. That way, you'll look forward to going to bed and waking up. Reading a book while leisurely munching on your breakfast sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

3. Clean your sheets.

You will sleep better when your bed is clean and comfortable.

4. Take a caffeine nap — the ultimate power snooze.

Take a 15-minute nap immediately after downing a cup of coffee. Researchers found that combining the two was more effective than taking a nap or drinking coffee on their own. Caffeine takes about 15 minutes for the effects to kick in, so by the time you wake up, you'll be feeling refreshed.

5. Use F.lux to diminish artificial light from electronics.

Too much blue light before you sleep can affect the production of melatonin, a hormone that controls the sleep cycle. F.lux can help by changing the color of your computer screen to correspond with the time of day. For example, the brightness will automatically be dimmed and the blue light will lessen as the day turns into night.

6. Or get blue-blocking sunglasses.

You can wear blue-blocking sunglasses ($30) to block out the artificial blue light at home. A University of Toledo study found that adults who wore blue-blocking shades three hours before they slept saw a significant improvement in quality of sleep.

Of course, you can skip all these blue-blocking gadgets if you just limit your usage of electronics a few hours before bed.

7. Invest in some breathe-right strips.

If you're not getting quality sleep, then perhaps you're not properly breathing. For a quick fix, get breathe-right strips ($17) to help open nasal passages.

8. Warm your feet.

We all know that you sleep better in a cool room (between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit) because your body temperature needs to lower for you to get to sleep. However, if the temperature is too low, it may cause your feet to get chilly. And when your hands and feet are cold, the blood vessels constrict, retaining heat in your body and making it harder for you to fall asleep. Since cold feet are strongly linked to the sleep cycle, putting on a pair of socks in bed might be a good way to induce sleep more quickly.

10 Bizarre Things Your Body Does While You Sleep

1. Paralyzes You
REM, which stands for "rapid eye movement" is the deepest phase of sleep. When you vividly recall a dream, it likely occurred during a REM cycle. In REM stages, muscles in our arms and legs are temporarily paralyzed while we sleep.This paralysis is normal, and it's not same as sleep paralysis, which occurs for a few seconds or minutes after you awaken (or, rarely, just before you fall asleep). In this disorder, the normal paralysis that happens during sleep holds on for a few scary moments after you wake up. If you experience this, check with your physician; it could be a symptom of narcolepsy.

2. Jerks You Awake
It may feel like you're falling or it may feel like you've been jolted awake, buthypnic jerks (sometimes called hypnagogic jerks) are a natural and common part of falling asleep. This phenomenon causes your limbs to jerk, perhaps because your body is preparing for the changes that take place during sleep, or perhaps because your body misinterprets the signs of impending sleep as falling--and thus jerks you in a misguided effort to stay upright. Scientists don't agree on what exactly causes hypnic jerks, but they're typically harmless.

3. Moves Your Eyes
As you sleep, you experience five phases of sleep, with REM as the last and most active phase. Once you complete a REM cycle, you'll start the first phase anew. Seventy to 90 minutes after you fall asleep, you should be in REM sleep, and you'll spend about 20 percent of your time sleeping in this stage. During REM sleep, our eyes dart quickly back and forth, but we typically have no memory of this (other than memories of dreams that often happen in this phase).

4. Produces Human Growth Hormone
Human growth hormone, or hgH, helps muscles, bone and other tissues regenerate. The helpful hormone is released during sleep, especially its deepest stages, and is thought to be prompted by low blood glucose levels present during sleep, among other factors. So, there is some science behind the concept of beauty sleep!

5. Narrows Your Throat
As you sleep, your breathing changes and your throat naturally narrows a bit as your muscles relax. If you've experienced a partner who snores noisily, you know what it sounds like when the throat becomes a bit too narrow. (Of course, snoring can have many causes, including a stuffy nose or tonsil issues.) Worse, the airway can close completely, causing sleep apnea.

6. Grinds Your Teeth
Bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding) happens to many people during sleep. It may be exacerbated by stress or a misaligned jaw, but research hasn't pinpointed the reason that some people grind only rarely (or never), while others end up with cracked or worn teeth and sore jaw muscles.

7. Slows Down Your Kidneys
Kidneys normally function to filter toxins out of the bloodstream and to produce urine. As you sleep, the filtering action of these organs slows, so that less urine is produced. (That's the reason your urine is usually so dark the first time you pee in the morning.)

8. Makes Up Stories
If you've awoken after a vivid dream, you know the vague unease of wondering if it was real--or why your mind produced that crazy mishmash of a story to begin with. Despite much research into dreaming and many hypotheses about why we dream and what dreams mean, the nuts and bolts of this everyday happening are still a mystery. Scientists have not yet figured out why we dream as we do, or found a proven process that would explain the content of our dreams.

9. Creates an Explosion
It's rare, but some people who experience exploding head syndrome hear a loud crash or bang, almost like a gunshot, just as they're drifting off to sleep. It's usually painless, but frightening, and tends to occur in adults over 50.

10.Turns You into a Chatterbox
It's more common in children than adults and in men than women, but talking in your sleep happens to about 5 percent of us. Dubbed "somniloquy," sleep talking is technically a sleep disorder, but may not bother you at all. In fact, you may not even realize you're doing it. Like dreaming, somniloquy has yet to be explained, and can occur in any stage of sleep. When you're sleeping lightly, your words will be easier to hear, and vice versa. Talking in your sleep can be sparked by episodes of stress, depression and illness, or occur alongside other sleep issues, such as sleep apnea.

www.nuteez.com

We Are Hiring!

Designation: Graphic Designer
Location: Bangalore

We are looking for a young talented graphic designer with textile design experience at Nuteez.com.

Requirements:
1. Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and aesthetic design concepts, as per the guidelines given by supervisors.
2. Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
3. Mark up, paste, and assemble final layouts to prepare layouts for printer.


Desired Skillset:
1. Any Graduate with a minimum experience of 2-4 yrs in graphic designing (B.F.A is preferable)
2. Has good creative knowledge.
3. Well versed with Corel Draw, Photoshop and Illustrator.
4. Ability to translate ideas into effective brand experiences.
5. Has an eye for detail and worked with good brands
6. Effortlessly think of out-of-the-box ideas under tight timelines. Must maintain high quality-control and productivity.


Salary: As per Industry Standards.

Please send your resume to care@nuteez.com

5 Ways to Protect Your Hair While You Sleep

Sometimes, we can spend so much time trying to find ways to have healthier hair, that we overlook the fact that our hair can also get damaged while we're sleeping.
Here are 5 things you can do to protect your hair while you get your beauty rest:

1. Brush your hair before going to sleep

This will help minimize knots and tangles in the morning.

2.  Braid your hair loosely

This will help contain your hair when you are turning and tossing at night. Options are endless: side braid, two pigtail braids, rope braid, dutch braid...Pick your favourite! (Hint: do a tight braid to wake up with mermaid waves).

3. Use a silk or satin pillow case

This material is a lot less rough on the hair than regular pillowcases, reducing the damage to your hair.

4. Avoid using elastic bands

They can cause hair breakage and put stress on your roots. Instead, use a soft scrunchie and tie your ponytail/bun very lightly at the top of your head.

5.  Sleep With Dry Hair

We highly recommend sleeping with dry hair - wet hair is very delicate and is much more prone to frizzing and breaking.

Following these easy steps is so important, because it will ensure that you are keeping your hair as healthy as possible, even while you sleep.

Courtsy - Luxy Hair Blog

T.V. Before Bed Anyone?

How many of us end up falling asleep with the TV on? Technology has advanced faster and further in recent years, which brings us to one conclusion……technology is everywhere. Which leads to the question how does technology affect our health? This is a question we rarely ask ourselves. The smallest amount of ambient lighting can affect your sleep. Poor sleep has also been considered a factor when it comes to a poor diet and obesity, and overall energy and mood. A new study done by the neuroscience department at The Ohio State University in Columbus suggests that soaking in the glow of your TV, smart phone or living room lights late into the night may put you at risk for depression and increase brain stimulation.
Apart from ruining your sleep, the research adds to growing evidence in both animals and people, that exposure to even dim lights at night can lead to all sorts of negative health consequences. Which includes breast cancer, sleep disorders and weight gain.

With even a small amount of ambient light at night, the body might release the wrong amount of melatonin, or melatonin might get produced at the wrong time, leading to any number of problems.

Neurologist Phyllis Zee, director of the Sleep Disorders Program at Northwestern University in Chicago explains “They’re all somehow related,” “and perhaps melatonin helps explain why there is this very strong relationship between depression, sleep, and circadian rhythms, as well as obesity and metabolism.”

“Light affects so many biological systems,” she added. “Light is a very powerful drug for the brain.”
There are concerns for people falling asleep in front of the computer or TV, which may diminish your overall sleep time. In addition to lowering the actual number of hours spent sleeping, it also apparently diminishes the quality of the sleep. The flickering light from a TV inhibits relaxation.

TV relaxes us or so we think it does but it may be too stimulating for your mind to unwind. Watching TV takes even more brainpower, since it requires some interaction instead of unwinding. In order to relax, try shutting them down or off before you go to bed; it may help you sleep better in the long run.



Remember these points

1. Exposure to dim lights when it should be dark may contribute to depression.
2. Light exposure at the wrong times of day has been linked to all sorts of health problems.
3. To boost your mood, it might help to give yourself some solid hours of true darkness at night. (Dark Shades, curtains)

Gym Clothes Are the New Real Clothes

When we discovered that oft-denounced sweatpants were among Google's most-searched spring 2015 trends, we realized the athleisure movement was far from fleeting. And not just for gym-goers or green juice enthusiasts, but, say, Hollywood stars, just going about their day-to-day.

With racks upon racks of designer clothing at their disposal, celebrities choose to run around town in their gym-friendly duds. No desperate scrambles to the car so as to avoid being seen, no quick-change acts, no walks of post-workout shame. Nay — yoga pants for the people, celebrities say!

So, slip into a nice pair of Capris or shorts and get about doing your daily day to days!.

www.nuteez.com

Five Reasons To Stay In Your Pyjamas All Day!

We live busy lives filled with jobs to do, errands to run, bills to pay, cleaning to catch up on kids to look after, the list goes on and on. Now, we're not suggesting you trade this all in on a permanent basis to become a pyjama wearing sofa dweller (aka sloth) but in the case of the busy woman the age old adage is true, a change is as good as a holiday. So get your diary out, find a day, clear your schedule and make a date with your favourite pyjamas. Treat yourself to this simple yet wonderful indulgence, a day where you don’t get dressed, don't put your makeup on, turn your phone on silent, ignore your emails and treat yourself some well earned ‘me time’. Here are our top 5 reasons to stay in your PJ's all day along with our favourite sleepwear and loungewear pieces for you to choose from. Go on, buy your favourites and book a PJ day today; you deserve this.

It’s A Rare Luxury
In this fast paced world who has the time to relax and just throw up their feet & say I will do it later!

It’s SO Comfortable

Just a day spent in your Pyjamas revive you and make you feel fresh and active for the whole week ahead! Get comfy now: www.nuteez.com

It Stops You Being Busy

We've all heard of power dressing for work, the idea that what your wear can affect your very psyche. Well the same is true of dressing for a day of relaxation. The simple act of keeping your PJs on lets your brain know it’s time to relax and lets face it, it provides a physical barrier to busyness too, I mean who’s really going to pop to the bank in their PJ's?

It Takes You Back
Remember those childhood and teenage days of the sleepover when you and your friends would stay up all night watching chick flicks then spend the next day in your PJ's munching breakfast at lunchtime and chatting till your hearts content. Wearing your PJ's all day has a strong nostalgic element sure to take you back to this wonderfully simple time. Learn this life lesson from your former self, a girly day spent in your PJs is a day well spent. Go on;spoil yourself today at www.nuteez.com

It’s Perfect For Pampering

There’s one kind of to-do list that you're allowed to tackle on a PJ day and that’s a pamper to-do list. So grab your nail polish, hair treatment, face mask and get busy in the very best way. PJs are much more conducive to relaxing pamper treatments so go ahead and treat yourself. Spoil yourself and buy today.