Sleep is something we spend about a third of our lives doing. If you live to 90yrs old then you'll spend 32yrs of your life asleep.
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When you sleep it clears your mind. When you don't sleep it leaves your mind murky.
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Sleep has an incredible restorative function to the mind.
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We go to sleep every night, but our brains, they never rest. While our body is still and our mind is off wondering in dreams somewhere, the brain is hard at work, cleaning and maintaining itself.
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Sleep Increases:
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Concentration
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Attention
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Decision Making
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Creativity
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Social Skills
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Health​
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Sleep Decreases:
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Mood Change
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Stress
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Anger
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Impulsivity
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Your tendency to drink, smoke or take drugs
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"Sleep is God. Go worship." - Jim Butcher
How do I know if I'm getting enough sleep?
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If you need an alarm clock to get you out of bed in the morning, if you are taking a long time to get up, if you need lots of stimulants, if you're grumpy, if you're irritable, if you're told by your colleagues that you're looking tired and irritable, chances are you are sleep-deprived. Listen to them. Listen to yourself.
"Enjoy the honey-heavy dew of slumber." - Shakespeare
Things to do to help you sleep
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Make your bedroom a haven for sleep. Make it as dark as you possibly can and also make it slightly cool.
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Reduce your amount of light exposure at least half an hour before you go to bed.
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No tech 90 minutes before bed, turn off all technology: mobile phone/tablet and computer/laptop. This reduces the amount of mental and emotional stimulation which often keeps us awake.
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Turn off anything that's going to excite the brain.
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Try not to drink caffeine too late in the day, ideally not after lunch.
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Wind down. Like children, a routine is good.
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Do something that will ease you off to sleep.
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"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together." - Thomas Dekker
Things to do to help you wake in the morning
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Light exposure is very good at setting the biological clock, so seek out morning light. It also helps you to sleep better in the evening. It does this by helping you set your body’s daily circadian rhythm.
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"If sleep does not serve an absolutely vital function, then it is the biggest mistake the evolutionary process ever made" - Dr Allan Rechtshaffen
I challenge you to try some of these tips today and find out what works for you. The good news is that a better nights sleep will also help you to eat better, relax and move more.
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