Our advice for a regenerating sleep!
The holidays are here and it is generally the ideal time to rest and eliminate all the fatigue accumulated since the beginning of the year. Who has not secretly dreamed during these last months of sleep like a groundhog, to lounge for hours under the sheets without the constraint of the alarm ringing? Smelling the smell of coffee and toasting bread from your bed is surely one of the greatest causes of happiness on earth (that's just me but I'm sure you think no less).
With us at Val Thorens, the marmot is an example to follow in terms of sleep. This charming animal passes 6 months a year sleeping, in total hibernation (the dream), before waking up in spring and enjoying the beautiful season. Although studies have shown that sleep above 2000 meters above sea level could be less relaxing due to the lack of oxygen, it seems that the locals have become accustomed to sleeping perched up there on the mountain. Maybe they have well-kept secrets? Could Genepi be a powerful sedative? And would the mountain air be so cold that we hide under the duvet after dark? Or would the cry of marmots plunge the inhabitants into a deep sleep?
Many of these hypotheses need to be clarified (especially that of the genepi) but in the meantime, I will give you my tips for sleeping peacefully and restfully, the words of a professional sleeper and marmot in the making.
1 â The freshness of the evenings
The mountain has this advantage to offer mild (even hot) days and cool evenings. We also know that we generally sleep better in a less heated room than the rest of the house. When the sun sets, air out your room for a few moments, enjoy the freshness, the pure air, the silence. Take a look at the shadows that the sun draws on the mountains, look for the first stars. That's it, we're good.
In winter, just think about ventilate your interior about ten minutes every morning, and to lower the heating temperature in the room by a few degrees.
2 â The power of plants
I'm clearly going to be 50 years old while writing this, but I assume (surely the effect of age). Every night I drink a herbal tea before going to sleep. Many plants are recognized for their soothing and sedative properties; chamomile, linden, lemon balm, verbena, orange blossom or even passionflower and lavender. I have some herbal teas to recommend: 2 Marmottes, Yogi Tea (organic), Clipper (organic) and Guide herbal teas (organic). So get out your cups, heat some water (not too hot, 80°C) and let the plants do their thing.
3 â A good book
The time to disconnect has arrived. It's well known that the waves that flood us all day long are bad for our health and keep our brains alert. When the evening comes, do not want to check your emails, your social networks, your messages... Leave your cell phone aside (better, put it in airplane mode). Open a good book (preferably read with the herbal tea mentioned above) and let yourself be taken away to new imaginary horizons. And if you lack inspiration, take a look at Thibaut's article which recommends 5 books on the mountains to read this summer.
4 â A little sporting activity
Regular practice of sport is directly linked to the quality of your sleep since it is anxiolytic, antidepressant and analgesic (all this is thanks to the endorphins that our body releases during exercise). It's like a virtuous circle : we do sports, so we are less stressed, and obviously we sleep better, and we recover better to then do sports and so on, QED.
During the summer, consider one of the many hikes that crisscross the Belleville valley, escape to beach volleyball, let off steam on a mountain bike, let yourself soar on a paraglider... In short, get moving! And besides, Julien Chorier, multiple ultra-trail winner, gives us his advice for optimizing his training at altitude.
In winter, discover the mountain differently by Nordic skiing, on a snowshoe ride or on a fat bike. Obviously, skiing is considered a sport if you spend more time on the slopes rather than on the terrace đ
5 â Calm down
Busyness really doesn't help you relax... All day long, we receive requests from all sides that we often take home despite ourselves. So before going to bed, we try to create calm around us â and, most importantly, within ourselves. There are some very simple exercises that allow you to clear your mind and refocus on what is essential. Observing a pleasant landscape helps to lower the heart rate and thus reduce the effects of stress on the body. Likewise, you can do a little meditation; sit comfortably, close your eyes and concentrate only on the flow of your breathing and the movement of your abdomen, trying not to let your mind wander. Easier said than done but I assure you that with a little practice, the benefits will be worth it!
If my advice allowed you to fall asleep without difficulty, then I am satisfied. On the other hand, if you fell asleep while reading this article, I am seriously going to review my writing style.
And if you also have tips for sleeping better, donât hesitate to share them with us! I leave you with this quote from Henri-FrĂ©dĂ©ric Amiel, who already extolled the virtues of good sleep in his diary from 1865: âThe sleep fairy is the mother of the spirit, the repairer and comforter of daily ills . â
Good night everyone đ
Themes
