You might’ve heard people say things like ‘life’s too short for 8 hours of sleep’ or ‘I have more energy when I’m 'sleep-deprived’… But really, we all need a good sleep in order to have longevity and sustainable functioning!
How crazy is it that if we sleep an average of 8 hours a night, we literally sleep for a third of our lives! If we live to be 90, that’s 30 years of just sleeping! Wild! What a waste of time, right? But actually, sleep is so, so important for our bodies, much more than I think we even understand.
Sleep affects our mood, our mental health, even our physical health. And running on too little sleep might be okay for a season, but it’s not sustainable in the long term.
I’ve been there, done that. Had my schedule so full that a decent sleep wasn’t in the picture. I learned the hard way just how important it is to have a good sleep! In fact, I’ve discovered that I’m one of the rare ones who needs a good 9 hours on the regular!
So, how do we prioritise getting enough sleep? Here are some practical tips!
Figure out what time you need to wake up in the morning then work backwards to determine what time you need to be in bed by to get a long enough sleep.
Do low-key things for the hour or so before bedtime - whether it’s reading a book, listening to some music, journalling to clear your mind, doing a paint by number, having a relaxing bath, sipping a warm tea… whatever it is that helps you unwind.
Turn your phone off! I set my phone to automatically go on ‘do not disturb' mode from 8pm every night which helps save me from mindless scrolling before bedtime. Being on our phones before bed can affect our sleep quality and also increase the time it takes us to fall asleep!
Finally, I wanna leave you with a Scripture that I speak over myself when I’m struggling to fall asleep:
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)
Go catch some zzz’s!
Laura XO
Comentarios