Netjets EU Volume 20 2023

LIVING WELL
“Sleep is important to our health
and our wellness and to being
the best that we can be and to being
engaged in our lives”
Stacy Peterson, NBC-HWC, Wellness Coach, works within Mayo Clinic’s Healthy Living Center
in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. Peterson consults with patients within the Mayo Clinic
Executive Health Program, which serves as a preventive health programme for busy executives
in the demanding stages of their careers. The Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program is
available at four locations: Rochester; Jacksonville, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; and London.
JULIAN RENTZSCH
just had some concerns or worries or other things that kept you
up,” Peterson says. “What do you notice the next day? Tired,
cranky, sluggish, lack of focus, physical issues like headaches
or stomach aches? It manifests a little differently in each of us,
but all of these things are heavy and burdensome. It shows what
we already know – that sleep is important to our health and
our wellness and to being the best that we can be and to being
engaged in our lives.”
Sleep is a time for our bodies and brains to be restored. During
sleep, hormones are regulated, learning is stored and toxins are
eliminated (among other things) making it a crucial consideration
for our daily functioning and performance.
To improve your sleep, particularly when travelling, there are
a few very simple steps that Peterson recommends:
1. Stick to a schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same
time every day, including weekends and across time zones.
If you’re unable to fall asleep within 20 minutes of going to
bed, leave the room and do something relaxing, like reading
or listening to music. Go back to bed when you’re tired.
2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Avoid large meals
within a couple of hours of bedtime. Use caution with nicotine,
caffeine and alcohol, as all can disrupt quality sleep.
3. Create a restful environment, even when away from home.
Keep any hotel room cool, dark and quiet. Avoid using screens
before bedtime. Fans, earplugs and other devices can help
create the environment you need.
4. Limit daytime naps. Long sleep in the daytime can interfere
with nighttime sleep. Naps should be short and taken earlier
in the day if needed.
5. Be physically active. Regular activity can promote better
sleep. You don’t have to run marathons each day; simply using
a hotel gym and stretching and taking a walk while on a flight
make impacts on sleep quality. Be sure to avoid strenuous
exercise close to bedtime.
6. Manage worries. Try to resolve worries and concerns before
bedtime. Set it aside for tomorrow. Stress management and
meditation can also be helpful.
“A physician here on our team at Mayo Clinic has a saying,
‘Sleep will find you’. Remind yourself that when you’re tired, sleep
will find you,” Peterson shares. “It can be frustrating, but your
body knows how to do its thing.”
Almost everyone has the occasional sleepless night or a few
nights in succession. If you feel your sleep issues go beyond an
intermittent occurrence, talk with your physician about some of
the issues you face and whether clinical intervention or testing
might be appropriate.
MAYO CLINIC AND NETJETS
NetJets is excited to partner with the Mayo Clinic Executive Health Program to bring expert
medical, health, and wellness content that matters to you. With a focus on preventive health
and wellness with timely, coordinated access to multidisciplinary care, including advanced
diagnostics, state-of-the-art prevention strategies and therapeutics, the Mayo Clinic Executive
Health Program provides individualised, comprehensive care to meet the unique needs of
business leaders in the demanding stages of their careers. The QR code will lead you to more
thorough information about this world-class programme, and your Mayo Clinic Executive
Health liaison for NetJets Owners will be happy to answer your questions.
40 NetJets