There has been much written about how sleep and rest look at any age. Sleep in young adulthood, up to the beginning of middle age, is important, as is the choice of the best pijama that suits the need of the moment. On this occasion, we will talk about what rest and sleep are like and how the pijama influences these activities during middle age.
At every stage of life, different challenges must be faced to sleep. But often, sleep begins to become more complicated during middle age or the 40s. Changes in hormones that influence sleep and circadian rhythms, a higher risk of health conditions that interfere with sleep, and the presence of chronic stress are some of the most common reasons why sleep tends to become more challenging as one ages.
If young adulthood has arrived at the door of many readers of this article, attention must be paid to sleep and time and care invested in cultivating sleep and rest habits that are necessary and healthy. Middle age is when that free ride of disorder generally ends. To sleep well and take advantage of the benefits and protection of high-quality rest, we must pay attention to sleep every day; special attention should be paid to the use of the appropriate pijama and be prudent with its use. It is useful and important to know what to expect from sleep during these years and why it must be cared for and cultivated so much.
What Sleep Is Like in the Mid-40s
For many, if not all, it may sound familiar to have slept like a log at 20 and quite well at 30, maybe even at 40. Then, at some point in the 40s or 50s, that sleep began to become unstable. Usually, one goes to bed exhausted but still has trouble falling asleep.
It is normal to wake up at least once or twice a night, sometimes to go to the bathroom, sometimes just because. Often, one does not sleep until dawn, wakes up long before the alarm sounds, and wishes to take advantage of those extra 45 minutes or hours of rest. Well, that is the welcome to sleeping in middle age.
These years are some of the most difficult to sleep for many in this age range. Given everything happening during this life stage, it is no surprise that sleeping is particularly complicated. Many during these years are in the agony of raising children and doing their best to give their all at work at the same time. Usually, they are helping care for elderly parents while figuring out how to pay for their children's college and finance their own retirement. These are just some of the reasons why chronic stress and worry are big problems for sleeping during middle age.
At the same time, biologically many things are happening that also make sleeping more challenging. For both men and women, hormones that promote healthy sleep are decreasing. At the same time, hormones that disrupt sleep, including cortisol and others, often increase due to stress and ongoing lack of sleep.
Men face their own hormonal changes in middle age, including a natural reduction in testosterone, which can adversely affect sleep quality. In turn, short sleep suppresses testosterone production, contributing to more sleep-related health problems, including obstructive sleep apnea and sexual dysfunction.
Sleep architecture continues to change, and less time is spent in deep sleep (and to a subtler degree, less time in REM sleep). During these years, more sleep time is spent in lighter and less restorative stages of non-REM sleep.
During these years, insomnia is seen to especially affect weight gain and metabolic health in both men and women. The combination of ongoing biological changes and stressful, busy daily schedules is not friendly to sleep or regular exercise, which can make a real difference for sleep and weight at any age, especially during these years.
Attention must be paid: Support good daily habits and choices that stimulate sleep and avoid those that harm it. A healthy diet, the choice and use of a pijama that helps to fall asleep and maintain sleep and rest, regular exercise, and attention to stress management can make a difference for sleeping well during some of the busiest and most challenging years of our lives.
Focusing on the fundamentals of sleep hygiene is an important topic that must always be kept in mind. Continuing to sleep well is entirely possible as one enters middle adulthood, but it usually does not happen by accident. Maintaining a high level of sleep requires some commitment and attention as one ages. Following a regular schedule for sleeping and waking, getting morning sunlight, avoiding stimulants at inappropriate times, wearing clean and appropriate pajamas suited to one's personal situation and the current weather conditions can help continue restorative sleep at 40 or older.
Ways to Improve Both Sleep and Mental Health
While sleep and mental health problems do not have a one-size-fits-all solution, discovering the right solution can work wonders for everyone.
Follow a Consistent Sleep Schedule
Consistency is key when it comes to resting every night. A consistent sleep schedule is one of the most important sleep habits one can create, along with the use of the pijama. Not only going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning can help sleep better, but it can also work wonders for mood and overall health.
This consistency can elevate mood and help protect against depression and anxiety, as well as health problems like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol.
A good way to help sleep on a consistent schedule is to sleep according to a chronotype. The chronotype is related to the body's circadian rhythm, which controls the sleep-wake cycle. The chronotype is the body's natural inclination to be awake or asleep at certain times and varies from person to person. That is why it is so important to care for rest; respect daytime nap hours, and the use of the appropriate pijama.
With all this, we invite you to visit our website El Búho Nocturno where you can find the pajamas that best suit your preferences and tastes.