Sleep: The Best Beauty Product

I tend to avoid the news whenever possible because its just depressing. I do, however, like to go through the "Science" and "Health" sections of Google News.  Recently this article came across my news feed.

We all know that sewing while tired is a bad idea. Nothing sucks more than realizing you just serged the wrong two seams together and there was no wiggle room for error in the fabric left. Being tired makes those kind of mistakes more prevalent.

And since many of us in the sewing corner of the internet are also interested in looking our best, there's something else sleep can do for us.  Remember the old saying "I need my beauty sleep"? Well, now there's scientific precedence to back it up!  Digging up this article on WebMD further studies show this:

6. Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin
Most people have experienced sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. But it turns out that chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes.
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic.
Sleep loss also causes the body to release too little human growth hormone. When we’re young, human growth hormone promotes growth. As we age, it helps increase muscle mass, thicken skin, and strengthen bones.
“It’s during deep sleep -- what we call slow-wave sleep -- that growth hormone is released,” says Phil Gehrman, PhD, CBSM, assistant professor of psychiatry and clinical director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. “It seems to be part of normal tissue repair -- patching the wear and tear of the day.”

That's right, a good night's sleep can do more for your complexion that Dove or Oil of Olay. Not that there is anything wrong with a good moisturizer. I still say Mom's beauty advise was the best I have ever gotten.

"Getting a good night sleep, moisturizer, and avoiding too much sun are the best recipe for beautiful skin. Oh, and always wear a good bra."  - Mama Katza

So what do ya'll think? Did you know this already or is this a revelation? What do you do to make sure you get enough sleep?  I know, particularly for us working Mom's that it can be very hard to take care of everything we need to but maybe watching out for yourself in this way is the best thing you can do for success.

Since I'm on vacation the rest of the week,  I look forward to an inbox full of thoughtful discussion. Cheers!

In closing, I leave you with this little tip for success:

The Power Of Naps

Hello Ladies! (and possibly gents)

I just had to share this because it is ever so relevant to sewing. I'm married, I have kids, and I work. With those three hats that I wear there is also the seamstress in me. The one that desperately wants to create fabulous clothing even through the haze of exhaustion. Because its a hobby I do all these other things first and then I sit down and stare at my sewing machine, or at the patterns and ideas and swatches of fabric that litter the top of my desk and dream big and want to start. But I can't. I can't because when I focus, I hyper focus. Other things get shut out. I forget to eat, clean, pay attention to the kids, and of course, sacrifice sleep.

Don't do it. Don't sacrifice these things but most importantly DON'T SACRIFICE SLEEP. You need it for your brain to function. You need it to be able to focus on work, on the kids, on your relationships. Heck, you need it to maintain healthy weight! And you'll be less likely to ruin that lovely fabric you just broke the bank on so you make that fabulous outfit.

I'll admit it, I cheat on my friends so I can get more sleep... and sewing time in.