I want to help you not just survive, but THRIVE in these crazy times. Yes, it is an uncertain time and there are things that we won’t be able to control – but it doesn’t have to be an obstacle, it can be an opportunity.
For 7 weeks I am going to send you a daily dose of inspiration, because if we set our compass right, we can sail through this!
“A good laugh & a long sleep are the two best cures for anything” – Irish Proverb
Tip # 32: Set a bedtime
Set a bedtime. We do it for children, because we know that it works. A regular bedtime makes for better sleep, better health and a better mindset for many reasons. Setting a bedtime is not, as it may seem at first glance, an impingement on our freedom. It is a choice to support our wellbeing.
There is currently an abundance of books detailing the power and benefits of getting enough sleep… this tip is a choice to give yourself that gift.
Times that are stressful, are when setting yourself a bedtime has the biggest impact. When we feel like time is too short, or the lists of things to do is too long, or our mind is racing – then we tend toward numbing behaviours that are generally not helpful in moving towards our goals (up too late lost in the TV, mindlessly snacking to stay awake, one too many glasses of wine)… Try setting a curfew on the internet and TV – enough time to wind down before sleep – and discover the natural balance between daylight and darkness, work and rest.
A set bedtime can also help us sleep better by allowing our body to create a strong natural rhythm. When things are chaotic and crazy is when we need to create structure – good habits make success possible.
Our willpower is a mental resource that is depleted by the end of the evening. By setting a bedtime (rather than an intention to go to bed earlier) we take out the need for willpower, using the power of habit instead.
Sweet Dreams.
Recommended Reading
Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker PhD
“Why We Sleep is an important and fascinating book…Walker taught me a lot about this basic activity that every person on Earth needs. I suspect his book will do the same for you.” –Bill Gates
