Sleep and Stress: Techniques to Unwind and Promote Relaxation
In our fast-paced world, stress has become an all-too-familiar companion. It can creep into our lives and disrupt our sleep, leaving us feeling tired and overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are effective techniques to help us unwind and promote relaxation, paving the way for a restful slumber. Here are a few tips to consider:
1️⃣ Bedtime routine: Create a consistent routine with calming activities like reading, bathing, or gentle stretches. Avoid electronic devices due to their interference with sleep hormones.
2️⃣ Deep breathing & meditation: Practice slow, deep breaths in a quiet space with closed eyes. Start with a few minutes of meditation daily and increase gradually.
3️⃣ Physical activity: Engage in enjoyable exercise like walking, yoga, or sports. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days.
4️⃣ Sleep-friendly environment: Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. Use comfortable bedding, a supportive mattress, and remove stressors like work-related items or electronics.
5️⃣ Relaxation techniques: Try progressive muscle relaxation, aromatherapy, soothing music, or gentle yoga poses. Release tension and prepare for a peaceful sleep.
Remember, it takes time to find what works best for you. Be patient and kind to yourself. By prioritizing relaxation and incorporating these techniques, you can reduce stress, unwind, and wake up refreshed.
Sweet dreams!✨
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️