Sleep: The answer to everything

Chances are you’ve wished at some point in your life you’d discover the secret to eternal youth.  OK, it might not be fun to be 16 your whole life, but happy and healthy often tops the list of wishes when the first star is seen at night.  While nothing in life is completely simple, we’re pretty sure that a good night’s sleep can have a great impact on your health and happiness, not to mention reducing stress and making you smarter and thinner too!  When is the last time you had a really good night sleep; the kind you get when you visit any of the Distinctive Inns of New England?  Starry nights, incredibly comfortable beds with fresh and luxurious linens, plus snuggling time with the one you love translate into the DINE sleep experience.  Isn’t it time for your next New England inn escape and another really good night’s sleep?  You owe it to yourself; do it for the sake of your health!

5 ways sleep makes you healthy, wealthy and wise

According to Mark Stibich, Ph.D. and longevity expert for About.com, when people get less than 6 or 7 hours of sleep each night, their risk for developing diseases begins to increase, memory is impacted and weight can even creep on.  In a recent article entitled Top 10 Health Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep, Stibich explains one of the keys to longevity is sleep.

Sleep Keeps Your Heart Healthy

Heart attacks and strokes are more common during the early morning hours. In fact lack of sleep can lead to worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, all risk factors for heart disease and stroke, says Stibich. Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night and you’ll eliminate one of the important risk factors for stroke and heart disease.  Get those hours of sleep at a DINE member inn, and you’ll enjoy your time asleep AND awake all the more.

Sleep can help combat cancer

It’s long been postulated that people who work the late shift have a higher risk for breast and colon cancer. According to Stibich, researchers believe this link is caused by differing levels of melatonin in people who are exposed to light at night. Light exposure reduces the level of melatonin, a hormone that both makes us sleepy and is thought to protect against cancer. Melatonin appears to suppress the growth of tumors. At home, be sure that your bedroom is dark to help your body produce the melatonin it needs. Distinctive Inns of New England innkeepers all provide quality shades and window treatments to insure that your room will be as dark as you need it to be.  No worries for those who like a small bit of light at night; the nightlights can always be turned on!

Sleep Bolsters Your Memory

When we sleep and dream, a process called memory consolidation occurs. As Stibich explains, while your body may be resting, your brain is busy processing your day, making connections between events, sensory input, feelings and memories. Your dreams and deep sleep are an important time for your brain to make memories and links. Getting more quality sleep will help you remember and process things better and make you more alert the next day.  Think about that last New England getaway you had to a DINE property.  Remember how wonderful you felt the next morning after a great night’s sleep?  Time for another great night’s sleep!

Naps make you smarter

Napping during the day is not only an effective and refreshing alternative to caffeine, says Stibich, it can also protect your health and make you more productive. People who nap at work have much lower levels of stress, until the boss walks in, that is! Napping improves memory, cognitive function and mood. Yet, rather than getting caught napping on the job, get your R&R at a DINE inn. New England getaways are all about R&R, and not only will your naps make you smarter, they’re also condoned by our innkeepers.

 Sleep can help you lose weight

Researchers have also found that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to be overweight or obese, according to the story in About.com. Lack of sleep impacts the balance of hormones in the body that affect appetite. So if you are interested in controlling or losing weight, check into a DINE inn for your best night sleep and then enjoy local and hearty foods for breakfast the next morning.

If we haven’t already convinced you, picture yourself in one of these beds, napping your way to good health.  We’ll see you at one of the Distinctive Inns of New England soon.

Enjoy a wonderful night's rest in the Harding Room at Captain's House Inn

The Carriage House was the most recent of all the rennovated guest rooms to be unveiled at the Cliffside Inn.

Enjoy lovely mountain views from the spacious Mount Washington Room at the Inn at Thorn Hill.

Those looking for New England tradition and historic significance will find it in the guest rooms at Inn at Grafton, one of the oldest inns in New England. Shown here, room 11 in the Main inn.