Like most people, I have certain health-related goals for the new year. The main one, however, is to develop a healthy relationship with sleep over the course of the year. I anticipate that other health goals will stem from or be positively influenced by this change.
I’m aware of sleep’s importance, but that doesn’t directly induce slumber. I’m a bad sleeper. Or, rather, I’m bad at sleeping when productive adults in our society are expected to be sleeping. I’m a bit nocturnal.
“A Healthy Relationship with Sleep” are words that were chosen carefully. Any relationship would be healthier than what I have now, so I’ve already accomplished something. This new sleep schedule likely won’t happen overnight (pun! is that a pun?) so I’m willing to put in the effort to change the relationship as a whole.
I’ve read many times about the importance of shutting down electronics before trying to fall asleep. Something about the glow of the screen interfering with your internal circadian rhythms. True or not, it’s in my head now and I’m one of the most suggestible people ever, so I’m determined to give this no-screen-pre-sleep thing the ol’ college try.
My electronic devices now have a 10PM curfew.
Yep. I’ve heard that the electronic shut-down should occur 2 hours before slumber is desired, but baby steps. Also, I would give my left arm if you could promise me I would always be asleep at midnight. Seriously. I’m right-handed so my left arm is just dead weight anyway.
{The beautiful blue, white, and yellow bed shown above is from Anna Dorfman‘s home as featured on Victoria’s blog. This may have been color inspiration for my bedroom. Love. In fact, I love Anna’s whole home. Go look.}
Love that bedding!
I don’t have a healthy sleep relationship at all. I actually find myself going to sleep around 5am in the morning just to wake back up at 9 or 10am. I wish I could sleep in but I can’t!
Good luck with your goals =)
Oy, we could hang out in the middle of the night together…
I usually manage to get my proper 7-8 hours of sleep between 10 pm and 6 am weeknights.
But honestly, I enjoyed working second shift (roughly 3-midnight) for four years primarily because of the sleep benefits. I was almost always well-rested. I got home by 12, 12:30, would go to bed around 2 and got to wake up whenever I darn well felt like it (usually around 10, 10:30.) and then I had time to eat, exercise, run errands, do whatever I needed to do and still work a full day.
Oh, there were definitely downsides and I’m glad to be out of the newspaper biz but I loved not having to wake up to an alarm.
I also have a rocky relationship with sleep so I am looking forward to reading how this goes as I can use some tips!
Hemborgwife recently posted…#1 of 2013!
I look forward to seeing your progress. I too have an unhealthy relationship with sleep. In fact, I’ve always described myself as “somewhat sleep-dysfunctional”. I’ve heard the average person falls asleep in something like 7 minutes, but for me I think it’s usually half an hour or more. The “shutting down the screens” thing would be tough for me. My face is usually in my iPad or watching TV right up until bed time. I’m weak.
What do you plan to do before bed? Read? Chat with the hubby? Play solitaire (with actual cards)?
Read, largely. At least, that is the plan two days in. It’s definitely hard to avoid screens! It’s like I’ve forgotten how to entertain myself!
Oh yeah, I feel the same. I’ve been wanting to do more reading myself but it’s too hard to tear myself away from more multimedia entertainment.
I actually do most of my reading on a Nook, but the screen doesn’t light up so I guess that wouldn’t count.
Josh V recently posted…Happy New Year!