In a few days we will be starting a new year and with it a time of reflection and hope for better health, better relationships, better finances, and more happiness. It is typical to want more of the things we believe will make us happy. The question is: “how do I get there?”
For the past several years, I have been becoming more and more aware of the importance of sleep. I have been discovering that sleep has many benefits I was unaware of. On a recent working holiday in Central America, I found within a few days of arrival that my day-cycle had changed significantly. I chose not to spend time watching TV and surfing the Internet in favour of going to sleep only hours after sundown (5:30 pm) and getting up at sunrise (6 am). As I got into this new rhythm, I became more aware of when I was feeling creative and productive and when I was not functioning at my best. Since I was attempting to produce some of my best work which required a great deal of creativity, I became more conscious of my mental state in order to optimize my performance.
Some of the Things I have Discovered About Sleep
The Ticos (natives of Costa Rica) have an interesting expression to describe their view of the importance of sleep in problem solving and decision making. When confronted with an important decision, they often say (translated from Spanish) “I will talk to my pillow about it”. In North America we say, “I will sleep on it”. In most cultures, there is an awareness of how sleep organizes our thoughts and brings clarity to a situation or problem. Those first few moments of consciousness between sleep and awareness are moments of creativity and clarity. I often “see” my day and what I should do or how I should solve a problem! I hate having to wake up and start moving immediately because it steals the richest and most precious few moments of my day.
More importantly to my quality of life is the impact sleep has had on my optimism, capability, and mood. When I sleep well, I feel well, and I am able to overcome the challenges of the day without them overcoming me. The quality of my sleep and the food I eat are the two most important factors in how I feel and what I accomplish in a day and at what level.
The hardest part of this journey of self-discovery has been overcoming the feelings that sleep is my enemy. Sleep is not the “annoying break” between the things I love to do, or have to do. That has been a “biggy” for me that I am still working on.
I also have had to learn to power-down a few hours before I go to bed with activities that prepare me for quality sleep. I avoid the stimulation of TV and the Internet and choose to get “outside my day” with activities I enjoy like walking, listening to or playing music, or just relaxing with a hot drink and spending time with Margaret. I need to slow things down in order to sleep easily and well. I have also learned the importance of the “power nap”. Twenty minutes in the middle of the day refreshes and improves my productivity and mood.
This has been a multi-year journey of self-realization about sleep which has produced a happier, fuller life for me. I am, however, slightly embarrassed it has taken me this long to figure out something that seems so simple and obvious. However, the more I work on doing sleep well, the better I get at it, and the more positive are my results. Finding my natural rhythm and letting my body lead in the “dance of life” has helped me be happier, and do more and better work. Though it may sound trite, my plan for “more” in 2011 is to sleep better and more often.