Feeling refreshed and rested are just some of the reasons why people go away on holiday, but ensuring a good quality, satisfying sleep is vital. 

If you find you’re sleeping badly on holiday, don’t blame yourself; It’s what scientist call the ‘first night effect’!  

The new study has revealed that it’s our animal instincts kicking in. When we sleep somewhere new, one side of our brain remains alert, and wakes us up at the slightest disturbance – be it screaming children, loud neighbours or a car horn.  

Lucky for us,  travel experts Oliver’s Travels have created an infographic that gives you tips on how to combat the holiday chaos and get a good night’s sleep away on holiday.

While it is a well-known factor that stores everywhere use discounts and coupons to attract customers, I am sure you’ve never thought about the effect of coupons on your mind. Most of the regular consumers enjoy receiving a discount or using a coupon because it makes you feel good.

As it turns out, the idea of a great deal (aka paying less for a product that’s in demand) taps right into our pleasure center and stimulates the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. As a result, we get a rush out of the experience, which can be the final nudge towards a specific brand.

Coupons Influence our Choices

Have you ever wondered why you choose this brand of clothes over the others? Is it because you think they are more comfortable or better in quality, or is it because you received a significant discount on your purchase?

However, the power of coupons can be observed easier with more expensive products. For instance, if you want to buy a new mattress (which is a hefty investment for most), even a 5% discount can be attractive!

Furthermore, sites like nolahmattresscoupons.com help buyers find all sorts of impressive offers in this niche. As a result, the producer who knows how to use coupons to their advantage will end up with more customers and increased profits.

Big Brands Understand the Power of Coupons

The first-ever coupon was distributed by Coca-Cola, in 1887, when consumers received a voucher that offered them the right to one free glass of Coke at any dispensary.

Since then, the idea of discounts, sales, special offers, and online coupons has been tantalizingly used to make us spend money on things we may or may not need. This happens because discounts play on concepts to which we respond strongly such as scarcity and irrationality.

All great deals have an expiration date, which is shorter when the product is in demand. So, by setting a time limit, retailers create a feeling of urgency and scarcity that triggers our fight or flight response. I am sure you’ve heard about those Black Friday incidents, where people fight over products they don’t really need. That’s how powerful the idea of a great deal is!

Furthermore, the discounted prices are specially designed to trick our brain into perceiving them as being smaller than they actually are. For instance, an item that costs $1.99 will be associated with $1 rather than $2. The same goes for bigger prices, where $999.99 looks a lot more appealing than $1,000.

Are Coupons a Bad Thing?

While the idea taps more into our lizard brain (our irrational part), coupons and discounts are not something bad. True, their main purpose is to make you buy stuff, but with a bit of restraint and self-control, you can get some pretty good deals and make significant savings.

So, as long as you remember to consider all the pros and cons of a product before making the purchase, you can use the power of coupons to your advantage!

The latest advancements of science show that sleep is of crucial importance in our lives. While we snooze, the body goes through a cleanup process, where the tissue is repaired, cells get refreshed, and bad substances are filtered towards the exit.

Furthermore, a good night’s sleep is also extremely beneficial for the brain. According to studies, people who sleep better are better at fulfilling tasks and are more productive at work. So, if you’ve been feeling tired and out of focus lately, have a look at why you should pay attention to your sleep patterns.

Improved Brain Function

People who don’t manage to get enough sleep suffer from impaired brain function, starting with memory and ending with the power of concentration. This happens when you don’t get through all the stages of sleep, starting with light sleep, moving to deep sleep, and culminating with REM sleep which is also called the dream state.

As it turns out, REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is extremely important for the brain. So, if you can’t reach it, the neurons responsible with focus, attention, memory, and problem-solving get sluggish. As a result, your thought process is slowed down, and you may find yourself incapable of making decisions based on logic and reason.

Now, your sleep can be influenced by a wide array of factors, but according to the official novosbedcoupon.net/ site, the bed and the surrounding environment play a powerful role. So, if you feel you can’t reach REM sleep stage, run an analysis of your bedroom and make sure everything is according to your needs.

Reduced Stress

We live stressful lives, but with the right tools, we can allow the brain to take a rest and refresh. However, if you don’t get enough sleep, the stress accumulated during the day can’t be released at night, and it piles up leading to anxiety, paranoia, and even brain diseases.

To keep your stress hormone levels at bay, you need to have regular deep sleep that follows the natural circadian rhythm of your body. As a result, you’ll wake up filled with energy and ready to tackle all the great problems of your life.

Naps Make Us Smarter

Do you remember when you were a child and your parents made you nap against your will? The reason behind this behavior was that sleep helps you grow and stay healthy. So why is this habit lost as an adult?

Recent studies show that a nap during the day, especially after 2 pm, is a fantastic boost for your energy levels throughout the day. It’s even better (and healthier) than caffeine!

As long as you do it right (20 to 40 minutes tops), a nap can reduce stress levels, improves cognition levels and memory. So, when you feel your head is falling on your keyboard after lunch, it is a strong sign to go take a break and sleep it off. The results are so strong that many companies all over the world allow their employees a nap break.

Reduces the Risk of Depression

Nowadays we know that depression is not just a state of mind; it’s a condition with strong implications on the brain’s structure and chemistry. Furthermore, recent studies found that there can be a connection between people who suffer from depression and their serotonin levels (which are lower than normal).

So, to prevent your serotonin levels from dropping and leaving you vulnerable to a depressive state, you should always keep a close track of your sleep quality. It takes between 7 and 9 hours each night to maintain a healthy brain and body!

Wrap Up

As you can see, there is a strong connection between the type of sleep we get and brain health. So, before you decide to lose sleep over a work project or a party, make sure it is truly worth it. Even more, schedule ahead to recover the lost time, and regain your sleep balance.

Happiness is one of those abstract things that doesn’t have a scientific way of measuring it, and yet everyone always seems to be striving for more of it. Here in the United States it seems as though happiness is something that is falling despite people’s efforts to raise it. According to a United Nations report, the United States sits at #18 in the world for happiness, with European countries sitting on top of the list. So, what is the solution? What is the secret to happiness?

Unfortunately, there is no concrete answer, but there is plenty of research that points to food as being a huge factor in a person’s overall well-being and their mood. In fact, you can actually eat your way to happiness in a way, not in volume but in picking foods that do your mind and body good. Here are some food-related tips and advice that can help turn your mood around and leave you feeling happier in life.

Choose Foods That Are High in Dopamine

Dopamine is a really interesting organic chemical that is found in everyone. It is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for carrying signals between the brain cells. It plays a massive role in your everyday behaviors in either a positive way, or a negative way when you have an imbalance happening.

As discussed on Vitamonk in a blog regarding dopamine and how to increase it, when a person lacks dopamine they are more likely to be moody, unmotivated, have sleep issues, have a sense of laziness, feel hopeless, feel fidgety, have problems focusing, and have issues remembering things. All of these symptoms will obviously have a huge negative impact on your level of happiness. So as the blog discusses, by elevating your level of dopamine, you’ll start to see those symptoms ease up and even disappear.

One of the best and most natural ways to increase your level of dopamine is by choosing foods that are high in the chemical. These foods tend to be high in protein. Examples include chicken, eggs, salmon, avocados, turkey, beets, fish, almonds, nuts, beans, and cheese. As well, you want to cut back on sugar and choose things like honey and stevia extra if you need that sweetness instead.

Fill Up On Plants

Another rule to follow if you’re looking to improve your level of happiness is to increase the amount of plants that you eat. This means a significant boost in the amount of vegetables you are eating. Not only are they rich in antioxidants that will fight off diseases, they also have a strong effect on your mood. There have been studies done on the topic that show that when you increase your vegetable consumption, anxiety, depression, mood, and other mental health issues decrease.

Make Sure You are Fueling Your Brain Cells

Another useful tip is to ensure you are fueling your brain cells. This is done through carbohydrates, but not just any kind; you want to choose the complex carbohydrates. These are the carbs that you find in whole grains, vegetables, and fruit.

Complex carbohydrates work by slowly releasing glucose into your body. What this does is act as a mood stabilizer so you won’t suffer from those dips and peaks.

Simple carbohydrates are completely different as they release a quick feeling of happiness and will trick you into feeling satisfied, but then you will feel a big dip not long after. These types of carbs are typically found in high-sugar drinks and snacks.

When it comes to carbs, the key is to think about what will give the most lasting benefits rather than that short-lived high.

Don’t Forget Your Gut Health

Then there is your gut health, which is becoming more and more of a focus for doctors and the research community. It turns out that probiotics and prebiotics work in the same way as an anti-depressant. That’s not to say that you should stop taking your medication, it just shows how important it is to have a healthy stomach. It affects your reactions, your appetite, and your emotions. Probiotics and prebiotics can be found in cheese, yogurt, and fermented foods just to name a few.

Yes, You Can Eat Your Way to Happiness

So, as more and more research is released on just how much of an effect food has on a person’s mood, it becomes clear that you can indeed eat your way to happiness.