(Family Features) Sleep is a priority for holistic health, but many women aren’t getting enough of it. Not only does it affect your overall health, but stress-related sleep loss also makes it difficult to maintain focus and energy throughout the day.

Sleep Habits for Women

Nearly half (45%) of women ages 40-60 lose more than two hours of sleep each night due to spiraling thoughts with 10% reporting losing more than four hours of sleep, according to Natrol’s Sleep Spiral Survey, revealing challenges women in this age range face for achieving quality sleep.

“Busy women often struggle with sleep due to lingering stress and anxiety from managing work, family and personal responsibilities, which can lead to spiraling thoughts, keeping the mind active at night,” said Dr. Shelby Harris, a sleep expert and director of sleep at Sleepopolis.

According to survey participants, personal finances are the top sleep disruptor, with 50% of women citing concerns over money as the primary reason they can’t fall asleep most nights. Additionally, 45% of women cite anxiety about the future often keeping them from falling asleep.

Seasonal factors can also impact a good night’s rest. The holiday season is the most challenging time for sleep, with 51% of women experiencing increased late-night thoughts during this period.

Understanding the cause of your sleep disruption is an important step toward improving your sleeping habits, especially since 1 in 3 women have more difficulty sleeping now than they did one year ago.

Regain control of your sleep with these tips:

Set the scene for sleep. Harris recommends updating your sleep environment for better results.

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“Avoid bright light and limit screen time at least an hour before bed and focus on creating a cozy sleep environment that suits your needs for quality rest,” she said. “Choose comfortable bedding, set the room to a cool temperature and incorporate soothing sounds like a white noise machine or fan to set yourself up for a good night’s sleep.”

Establish a consistent bedtime routine. You can teach your body to anticipate bedtime and ease into better sleep. Begin preparing for bed at the same time each night and go through the same ritual. That might include grooming and self-care habits to help you wind down for the night.

Consider a sleep aid supplement. Many women (1 in 4) often simply give up trying to fall asleep when experiencing spiraling thoughts, with 89% at least occasionally giving up on sleep altogether and choosing to get out of bed. Melatonin supplements can help calm the mind before bed so you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep.^† Consider Natrol’s selection of drug-free Melatonin Gummies, which can help manage occasional sleep disruptions and support quality sleep.

Take steps to manage stress. Prioritizing stress relief can benefit your overall health along with helping you get better rest. Engaging in relaxing activities like reading, meditating or listening to music can be especially helpful in the evening to clear and soothe your mind before you head for bed.

Harris recommends talking with your doctor if you’ve tried various sleep hygiene strategies and find you’re still struggling to get restorative sleep.

“You can discuss whether a sleep aid such as melatonin is appropriate for you and align on the right amount and timing to address your sleep concerns,” she said.

Find more ideas to support better sleep health at Natrol.com.

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Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
Natrol

Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.

(Family Features) If current trends continue, decades of gentle teasing and jokes about older adults’ confusion with technology may be on their way out. Not only do digital tools and technology help this generation stay connected to family and friends, but technology is also making it more practical for these individuals to remain independent and age in place.

Older Adults Digital Literacy

Assistive and health-related technology is also on the rise, according to a “U.S. News & World Report.” Tools like medical or health apps, wearable trackers, hearing devices and some smart home products make it easier and safer for older adults to age in place. 

Whether for social, practical or entertainment purposes, growing your confidence with technology and digital tools can be a slow, steady process that allows you to increase your comfort level while building a solid understanding.

Boost your digital literacy with these tips from the tech experts at Cox Communications:

Find resources that allow you to participate in digital literacy education. Many community groups offer classes geared toward older adults, and you can also find resources from internet providers. If you’re comfortable searching the internet, you can also find support groups and user-friendly guides online. 

Slow down.When it comes to digital literacy, the internet can be fast-moving, which can be overwhelming for older adults who are not used to the environment. The pace can also expose you to the risk of cybercrime. Approaching online activity in small bites may help you take in a manageable amount of information and process it before piling on more information. 

Research options. With so many technology devices and services available, it’s possible, and even advisable, to explore the various options before making a purchase or signing an agreement. Consider the features you need against your budget to make the best choice. For example, options like Cox Communications’ Connect Assist program can help you find fast, reliable and affordable internet plans to fit within your retirement budget.

Take breaks. Digital media can become addictive for older adults; with so much to see and learn, it’s easy to lose literally hours. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a balanced approach and limit the time you dedicate to your smartphones and computers each day. 

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Use digital media to improve connections.Social media and online groups can add social connectivity, but this digital interaction shouldn’t replace your personal relationships. Be sure to prioritize live social connections, and don’t use digital media in place of conventional in-person connections that can provide important benefits for your overall physical and mental health.

Stay informed about cybercrime. Because of their limited experience with technology, older adults are major targets of cybercrime. Stay informed about methods and tactics used by these criminals so you can protect yourself, your identity and your assets.

Use strong passwords. If your memory isn’t what it used to be, you may be tempted to repurpose your passwords so you don’t have to remember as many. Unfortunately, that approach may mean that if someone figures out how to access one account, they have access to many more. Create passwords that are a mix of letters, numbers and symbols and write them down in a safe place. Generally, it’s best to avoid using easily guessed information like birthdays and names of children.

Be cautious about what you read and share online. If something seems questionable, verify it with multiple sources before accepting it as true.

Explore more resources for older adults in this digital age at cox.com/digitalequity.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

SOURCE:
Cox Communications

Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.

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Available exclusively on Gatorade.com, Gatorade iD now offers next level AI design technology through a collaboration with Adobe Firefly so athletes can personalize their own one-of-one signature bottles

CHICAGO /PRNewswire/ — Today, Gatorade announced the launch of a generative AI-powered design experience on its Gatorade iD free membership platform. In partnership with Adobe Firefly, Adobe’s family of creative generative AI models that is safe for commercial use, the new customizer tool allows athletes to express their unique styles and interests through nearly endless personalization possibilities on Gatorade Squeeze Bottles. Some of the most iconic athletes in the world have collaborated with Gatorade on signature bottles, and last year Gatorade.com began offering enhanced customization capabilities on its website. Now, all athletes can personalize their own in a way never before offered by the sports fuel brand.

The new ability to create custom designs using AI for inspiration takes existing Gatorade.com bottle personalization options to the next level. Every athlete is one-of-one and by putting these tools of self-expression directly in their hands, they now have access to millions of different design options. By simply typing ideas such as their favorite sports, designs and hobbies into a search box on the website, and then choosing from a selection of colors, vibes and passions, it’s easy to make the Gatorade Squeeze Bottle their own.

Adobe Firefly Services, a set of APIs and capabilities to scale personalization, enables the generation of images that unlock creative self-expression while maintaining the iconic look-and-feel of the Gatorade Squeeze Bottles. Gatorade collaborated with digital product agency, Work & Co, part of Accenture Song, to ensure the new AI experience is seamlessly integrated into Gatorade.com and is user-friendly.

At the Adobe MAX 2024 Creativity Conference, Xavi Cortadellas, Gatorade’s Sr. director of marketing, athletic equipment, and Leon Imas, vice president of design at PepsiCo, will unveil the technology experience on Gatorade.com.

• “Gatorade continues to be at the forefront of athletic equipment personalization, and the launch of AI-generated bottle design puts next level creative self-expression directly in athletes’ hands,” said Cortadellas. “Now athletes everywhere can have fun with our AI tool in a way that’s approachable and uniquely on-brand. Available on Gatorade.com through the free Gatorade iD loyalty platform, there are nearly endless possibilities for personalization.”
• “Gatorade has been bringing personalization to new levels of expression and innovation in our products and experiences,” said Imas. “This is a rare moment when the idea creates next level expression and industry-leading innovation. We crafted a special experience for our athletes to feel like a Gatorade pro, creating styles, themes and structure references that Firefly pulls from to make all generated bottle designs uniquely Gatorade, and special to you. The end results are bottles generated by AI, powered by design, and imagined by you.”

The capability will only be available on the Gatorade website through Gatorade iD, where users can earn points and unlock benefits. Points can be used to generate bottles designs, and preset options are also available for inspiration. Every member will have the option to create two free designs before tapping into their loyalty points and designs will be saved to the user’s profile so they can return to them at any time.

“Every brand is trying to figure out how to effectively personalize customer experiences at scale, a proven strategy that can boost audience engagement and drive lasting loyalty,” said Hannah Elsakr, vice president, Adobe. “Gatorade is pioneering a new approach and making one-to-one personalization a reality with generative AI, leveraging Adobe Firefly Services to deliver highly customized water bottles and unlock creative expression for millions of everyday athletes.”

Athletes today are increasingly seeking ways to personalize their experience on and off the field and Gatorade is one of the first brands to put the power of an AI-fueled experience in their hands so that they can customize their own bottles. As a brand born to solve athlete problems, Gatorade continues to lead the industry forward with innovation that matches these athletes’ needs. The brand is focused on supporting each athlete on their unique journey to greatness, and this is just the start of how AI will fuel athlete personalization.

Anyone can utilize the generative AI-powered personalization to create their one-of-a-kind Gatorade Squeeze Bottle for $34.99 via Gatorade iD, the brand’s free membership platform on www.gatorade.com.

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About The Gatorade Portfolio

The Gatorade Portfolio, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), is a connected performance and wellness ecosystem built to fuel all athletes and exercisers. Bringing together Gatorade, Fast Twitch, Propel, Evolve and Muscle Milk, the Gatorade Portfolio is the most complete offering in the category today, with a broad range of personalized solutions at every stage of the athlete journey. This integrated system of brands is built on Gatorade’s nearly 60-year history of studying athletes and is fueling the future of athletic performance and wellness by delivering solutions across hydration, protein, energy and all-day nutrition to fuel consumers, no matter how or why they sweat. For more information and a full list of product offerings, please visit www.gatorade.com. 

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

SOURCE The Gatorade Company

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