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This time of year I like to practice the fine art of hibernation. It’s cold outside, the sun hides for half the day and the blankets are plentiful. I also can’t function at all on less than 7 hours sleep. I’ve tried and it’s not pretty.
This is one of the most obvious methods of strong self care and probably one of the most easily ignored. We make great (or not so great) excuses for not getting our shut eye. We have too much to do, we surf the net for two hours because its there, or we don’t want to miss a good show.
We sacrifice our sleep in the name of productivity and it works against us. Without a good solid 7 hours our stress level increases, we lose focus, memory retention decreases and we are more susceptible to illness. The benefits of getting a good nights sleep vast and needed in order to get thework done that could keep you from sleeping.
Basically, it’s a vicious circle of not having enough time to get both enough sleep and everything done. This doesn’t mean we have to fall into the seemingly inevitable trap. Here’s how:
Make sleep a priority – Go all grade school! Set a bed time for yourself based on when you feel more productive. If you’re a morning person, set your alarm for a time when you can use that morning to your benefit and work backwards. If you’re a night owl, figure out when the latest you can wake up is and work backwards from that. Once set, you need to make sure that getting bed on time is a priority.
Work smarter, not harder – We waste a lot of time in our week. Find that wasted time. Don’t make an excuse for it. Get rid of it. Remember that getting more sleep means you can focus more. Use that to your advantage. I am willing to bet you could find an extra hour you never knew you had.
Set bed time rituals help you fall asleep faster – Get to that deep sleep quicker by tapping into what relaxes you. Have a cup of decaftea, read a chapter of a book, meditate, have a glass of wine or write in your journal. Find whatever works for you and stick to it.
Avoid getting riled up late at night – This is the hard part. Don’t hate me for what I’m about to say. Dump the caffeine after lunch. Shutoff the TV after 7pm. Don’t check your Blackberry. Essentially, disconnect. Breathe.
You know that moment when you first wake up when you’re not fully awake but just awake enough to know you’re really happy and comfortable?Your mind may not have that cognitive awareness while you sleep but your body feels that happy. Allow yourself that. It’s not selfish, it’s a necessity. Reward a hard day with good sleep so you can take on the world again tomorrow.
Sweet dreams, my friends!
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No more spinning your wheels. Get unstuck and grow! You deserve the best life you can imagine. What it takes to make that happen is possible because it is already part of you. http://www.blog.thrive-coaching.com
