'One more hour of sleep equals several more hours of much higher productivity.
Our highest priority is to protect our ability to prioritize.'
~ McKeown ~
So ... how many hours do you scrape by on each night?
The specialists tell us we need 8 ... or even 7. Yet truth be told, many of us try to manage on 6. Or even 5.
We're not talking about the occasional sleepless night here, but a chronic exhaustion, a distinct lack of energy that saps the essence of who we are, leaving us to sleepwalk through our days in a kind of lethargic survival mode.
Perpetually sluggish, we know we're missing the boat when it comes to mental sharpness. Our ability to focus clearly and complete even the simplest of tasks well seems to be waning. Decision making has become last minute, slapdash, or based on fear or other nebulous emotions. We react rather than thoughtfully respond to what comes at us. And we can't remember the last time there was a zestful creativity or those sky's-the-limit envisionings that give life its vibrant joy and glorious bounce.
This isn't working for us, is it.
Check out these 7 little sleep-inducing tidbits that have served me well ... {when I live them out!}
1. Take a hike
30 minutes of walking earlier in the day may boost levels of serotonin, that feel-good hormone that relaxes us. And the rise in body temperature brought on by walking may signal the brain to lower our temperature hours later, promoting sleep. Plus, we're able to smile inside, knowing we're taking care of our bodies with regular exercise.
2. No evening caffeine, sugar, or heavy snacks
This should be a no-brainer, but a 9 pm hot fudge sundae with all the trimmings is just not conducive to a good night's sleep. Going to bed with a full stomach is a recipe for insomnia. Sorry.
3. A long hot bath
This is my ultimate go-to stress reliever. Very heavy on the bubbles, please.
4. Cut way back on online activity
An evening of endless browsing or heavy duty writing absolutely does not work for me. All I can say is that I wish my favorite blog link-ups were scheduled during the daylight hours, not at 10 or 11pm at night.
5. No heavy duty discussions
Outside of some gentle pillow talk, I don't know if I can remember any super-productive late night discussions. This is not the time for major decisions, conflict resolution, or true confessions. Save it for the daylight hours when you're awake and alert.
6. Adios to playing Holy Spirit
If you're moving through life feeling like you need to obsessively rescue, fix, or save others, your mind will have a very hard time settling down and you will never be at peace. Period. Here's why.
7. Book-light journaling
If it's been a wild few days and my mind is whirling like a crazed dervish, I flip on my little book-light and pull out my journal. Scratching out my thoughts, feelings, and concerns {no names, please}, processing them well, and then releasing them to the Lover of my soul is hugely helpful and a wonderful benediction to the day. Deep breathing prayer only adds to the sweet release. He whispers, 'peace, be still.' Psalm 127 tells us that He grants sleep to the ones He loves ... if we let Him do His sacred work in our weary, over-burdened souls.
*
If you find that this collection of ideas isn't making much of a difference, please talk to your doctor. You might be dealing with a side effect from a medication. Or experiencing depression. Sleep apnea might be in the picture. Or any one of a number of medical challenges that can be diagnosed and treated. Successfully.
Night-night. Sleep tight.
/ mommy and me on the beach ~ 1956 /
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