Just because we all inhabit human bodies with matching human minds, there are times when we just don’t get enough true rest and deep sleep. As a process, sleep allows the body to repair and renew itself physically and mentally. That’s why “we sleep on it” in order to make an effective decision. Sleep allows us to download our experiences so that we can use more of our brain’s capacities to gain perspective and weigh potential outcomes.
Even just one night of compromised sleep can impact our ability to think and relate to others. When lack of sleep is a chronic issue, negativity, failing memory, distract-ability and disengagement tend to creep in to a person’s work performance and personal life. Part of the issue is that we perceive we can offset a lack of sleep. Filling up on caffeine and foods that soothe are how people will self-medicate. Excesses from this pattern can lead to increased anxiousness and weight gain, while never solving the bottom line need for just more quality rest and rejuvenation.
Addressing the issue means looking at your sleep habits and tendencies, paying attention to what works best for your body and psyche and then making changes to support those more favorable conditions to getting sleep. Basic shifts include creating a period of unwinding that starts a few hours before bedtime. A time where work is put away, lighting is dimmed and any activities are soothing (think reading a paperback book vs. playing a video game that wakes up all your senses.) Other lesser known changes include making sure the room you sleep in is truly and consistently dark in order for your body to produce enough melatonin, a hormone that regulates circadian rhythms related to sleep cycles.
Thinking its time to look into this a little further? Follow this link to a sleep assessment and recommendations to get back to your best self.