Year after year, we are all constantly in awe of Jennifer Lopez and her ageless beauty. It’s like she is aging backwards! She has done so many interviews about her beauty routine and revealed a lot of tips as to why she has maintained beautiful skin and a youthful glow: she drinks plenty of water, rarely drinks alcohol, eats a healthy diet full of fruits, veggies and whole foods, etc. She is definitely good at sticking to a routine that has proven results. But there is still a number one beauty secret that Jennifer Lopez sticks to above everything else: sleep. And lots of it!
At first when I heard sleep is her secret to finding the fountain of youth I was surprised, only because I thought it couldn’t be that simple. But actually in thinking about it, it makes perfect sense. Getting enough sleep is something few people do, especially Americans. We are always packing it in with these mega-busy lifestyles and few of us actually get enough zzz’s. Add insomnia to the mix, which is common for many people due to a variety of reasons: too much exposure to blue light from our devices before bed, stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, hormone imbalances, etc. and it’s safe to say many of us are not getting optimal rest at night.
But getting good, restorative sleep is crucial to health and beauty. It also has positive effects on mood, concentration, weight, skin, brain and mental health, etc. You name it – sleep affects everything we do. So it’s no surprise that Jennifer Lopez has admitted that “sleep is my secret weapon.” I have heard her say this over and over again in countless interviews. She says she aims for a minimum of eight hours a night but strives for nine to ten hours to stay healthy and to give her the energy she needs to keep up with her active lifestyle. “The No. 1 tip is to always get enough sleep. I can’t stress this enough,” she says.
So make sure you are prioritizing enough sleep! No matter how busy you are, it’s always worth eliminating anything you can fro your routine that will help you get more sleep, like skipping the auto play on Netflix and just heading to bed instead of squeezing in one more show. There are so many processes that happen in our bodies when we sleep that don’t (and can’t) occur when we’re awake. Our body detoxes, fights inflammation, and goes through countless other restorative processes while we sleep to balance hormones, keep our organs healthy, maintaining optimal brain function, a strong immune system, etc. And your body needs a certain number of hours to do it. Cutting your sleep short means you will prevent a lot of these functions from happening. And it will definitely take a toll on your health and how you look, even if you don’t initially realize it. So rest up! The results are worth it and your body will thank you.
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Image Credit: Blue Dress on Homepage – Getty Images – Dia Dipasupil
