Power Sleep
Kids sometimes think that if they go to sleep before everyone else, they’re going to miss something, going to miss out on all the fun. And even as adults we seem to carry that same or similar belief around with us nowadays it’s called #FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) .
In addition to our own beliefs, we’ve got powerful ideas in our culture that deny the importance of sleep, and view it as a waste of time:, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead”, and “party all night long!” and of course it is nice to stay up all night with friends and party till the sunrise, but that’s when you don’t have to wake up in the morning and you can afford give yourself the rest and time to recuperate over the next few days.
There are some people who simply have become addicted to working too hard and being continually exhausted, or staying up so late that they fall deeply asleep as their heads hit the pillow.
But sleeping problems are very common, being a lite sleeper, not being able to sleep or waking up in the middle of the night or very early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep and feeling tired, grumpy and irritable most of the next day.
Sometimes we get so used to this type of pattern that we think it’s normal and being waking up depressed or in a bad mood as part of our personality. “I’m not a morning person!” or the countless caffeine cult memes which say: “Talk to me after I’ve had my coffee”.
The problem is that it’s proven sleep deprivation, continued disturbed sleep, or erratic sleep patterns, do contribute to changes in brain chemistry, having a detrimental effect on the actual brain structure and can be a major contributor to depression.
And the crazy thing is, despite it seeming anti-intuitive, it turns out that sleeping less doesn’t make you ANY more productive! People who sleep for 12 out of 24 hours get just as much done, in those 12 waking hours as people who only sleep 4 in their 20 waking hours.
Sleeping more, makes you more productive, it makes you happier and healthier.
So if you are committed to your own happiness, if you’re serious about getting and remaining happy, then good, deep, regular and healthy sleep is going to have to be a priority.
There will be those reading this who are parents of young children and babies, and will be screaming and pulling your hair out in incoherent monosyllabic utterances vaguely resembling sentences, that it’s impossible to get enough sleep when you’re a parent of young kids, but I beg you to seek the help and support of your immediate family, friends and community to invest in your own sleep. Getting as much sleep as you can will benefit your own mental health and the well-being of the entire family.
If you’ve got a new baby, sleep when it sleeps, wake when it wakes, allow yourself and indulge in sleep at this important time. It can be an amazing opportunity for you to rest and recuperate with the rhythm of your baby.
Either way if you’ve been having difficultly sleeping, the following advice will be useful:
- Make sure you’ve got a comfortable bed, soft sheets, covers made of natural fibers and a heavy duvet.
- De-clutter your bedroom so it becomes a place of sanctuary, rest and retreat.
- Don’t do work or watch TV in your bedroom.
- Make sure your room is dark, without much light pollution.
- Turn down the temperature of your home when you’re sleeping.
- Get in to the habit of winding down, before bedtime, perhaps, reading a book, or listening to relaxing music or a calming meditation.
- Cut down on, or if possible totally eliminating caffeinated stimulants.
- Drink chamomile and lavender herbal teas a couple hours before bedtime.
- Take a power nap during the day.
If you find yourself waking up worrying about things you think you need to do tomorrow, place a pad and pen next to your bed and write a list of those ‘important’ bits of information and tell yourself, now that it’s written down, you can sort it out in the morning.
The bottom line is that sleep is really important and it’s a fallacy to imagine and continue yourself that you don’t need it or even worst don’t deserve it.
You need sleep, and once your get into a habit you’ll desperately look forward to the absolute luxury or resting, winding down and sleeping soundly throughout the night and you’ll wake up, happy rejuvenated and ready to dance your way through the day.
