Why we Undervalue Sleep
It's easy to get caught up in the no-pain no-gain, I'll sleep when I'm dead mentality.
We are more connected than ever before with the internet.
You can work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are constant updates on the news and social media.
And we don't want to miss a second of it.
Now there are many obvious benefits to the infinity of the internet. We can stay in touch with friends and family without the need of a carrier pigeon or horse and buggee to deliver our messages with a two month response rate.
We are able to educate ourselves and stay informed at an incredibly high level. You and I can learn anything we want, anywhere in the world, any time.
This does, however, come with some drawbacks if we are not careful. Many of us are so out of touch with our circadian rhythm and sleep cycles that we forget what it even feels like to be well rested. Many cannot begin their days without coffee or a strong dose of caffeine to feel "ok".
Why is this?
As a western society, we have deemed sleep a waste of time, a low priority, or even in some case, it is for the weak. We would rather see the latest Facebook or Instagram post, scrolling aimlessly as our eyes burn screaming for rest than give in to sleep. We work ourselves into burn out and watch movies on Netflix until we pass out.
Many claim they cannot even fall asleep unless they are watching something on a screen.
We are addicted to this powerful tool called the internet. To social media, to TV, to movies, to the burst of colorful stimulation.
Our bodies are out of balance and confused.
We must reframe this mindset of viewing sleep as a negative.
Sleep is one of our most powerful medicines.
What if I told you many of those symptoms you are taking pharmaceutical drugs for could be cured by sleep?
And no, I don't mean just sleeping in on Sunday then watching Netflix and scrolling Instagram for hours in bed.
I mean recreating our relationship with sleep.
Prioritizing sleep.
Making high quality sleep a habit.
Sleep is required.
We've often been told that 8 hours in the golden number. Now this may be true for some, but others may need up to 12 or as little as 6. 6-12 hours of sleep. It depends on the person, their life, activities, stresses, exercise, etc.
Beyond just the amount, WHEN you sleep is equally important.
Per our circadian rhythm, which we have developed through evolution for thousands of years, we had to rise with the sun to ensure the best chance at survival. Experts say that we should be asleep by 10pm. Our bodies target physical repair in the hours of 10pm-2am. In the case of fight our flight, our physical bodies must recover first in case of emergency. From 2am-6am, our system focuses mainly on our psychological function.
Now I'm not saying it's easy to be in a perfect circadian rhythm, and I'm not saying I do so every night. But if you've ever had a consistent sleep scheduling of early rising with one night of staying up until 4am, you wake the next day feeling like you just had a night of heavy drinking.
Keep in mind, everybody is different and there are always exceptions to the rule.
I'm sure you can train your body to adjust to other times if you create an optimal sleep environment with black out curtains and a quiet room to mimic the night time hours. I've seen people who have down such and thrived, but they are few and far between on the thriving front.
At the end of the day, we need to change how we prioritize sleep and create a healthy sleep cycle that works for us and our lifestyle needs. What it really comes down to; your 12-18 waking hours will be much more happy, healthy, and productive if you prioritize your sleep. So don't watch one more show on Netflix, put the phone on airplane mode, and enjoy one of Nature's greatest medicines; SLEEP.
At the end of the day, a healthy dose of stress is what causes us to grow. It is the constant, chronic stress without proper recovery that does us harm. We must learn find our own balance, whatever that balance may be.
Stress + Rest = Growth
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Reminder: always consult a healthcare professional before implementing any major lifestyle shift. Changes should be made gradually and sustainably.
Learn more about working with Rob for assistance in reducing stress, improving sleep, and increasing energy in the 8-week Holistic Lifestyle Coaching Program: