Do any of you get the recommended eight hours of rest per night? What is your sleep pattern today? When I was younger and working 14-hour days, I slept 4 hours nightly and took a 90-minute nap in the afternoon. Now my rhythm is closer to six hours nightly and I wake fully rested.
I am gifted (so I am told) with the ability to fall asleep in minutes. It is a rare event where my mind wanders into problems. Years ago, I wrote my worries on a notepad before sleeping. If something popped up, I’d write it down and would know I could get to it tomorrow. That paper list evolved into a digital list on my phone. Restorative sleep and rest are essential. Find your way of putting things to rest along with yourself.
Sleep studies have proven that dark colours in your sleep chamber disrupt your sleep. Lighter and soft colours promote a smooth sleep cycle. Like the heating and cooling of a clothing iron, you glide into and out of sleep. Dark, vibrant, and contrasting colours stir the mind to sleep like a switch, on and off. Consider covering windows with multiple layers of light-coloured fabric to prevent exterior light penetration if it is a disturbance for you.
Your bedding should also reflect light colours to influence your circadian rhythm. Get your internal clock set to dictate a calm mind before bed. A silent mind is a dead, injured, or diseased mind. Learn to control your beautiful mind.
We all have different needs to dissolve in slumber. What are your preferred high-quality king bed sheets and pillowcases made of? I sleep best between a fitted sheet and a bedsheet made of cotton or natural breathable material. Renewable, if possible, but that’s a different comfort. What material works best for you, in your environment?
Pillows were first designed as blocks to raise their ears from wondering bugs. That’s a creepy-crawly thought but today we have great options. Material science advancements have come a long way in cooling technology so we no longer have to flip our pillows. How many pillows do you sleep with? I use one memory foam pillow for spinal alignment and another that is down-stuffed.
Are you a microfibre fan for your bedding or as a quilt cover? Some people have reactions to blends or synthetics. My environment is hot and humid so I choose breathable. What drives your bedding choice?
Mattresses are expensive. Great mattresses are exorbitant. A short-term solution to adjust an uncomfortable firmness is a mattress topper. You could be experiencing a temporary discomfort and once it realigns your original mattress feels as comfortable as it used to.
Make subtle changes, similar to the previous clothing iron analogy. Get into the habit of calming down, getting quiet, reducing the lighting, emptying your mind, and feeling your heart rate slow. Plan and create a morning that supports a slow acceleration from slumber to thought and movement. Sleep well, dream big.
Lily James