Why I love to sleep
I love sleeping. Absolutely love, love, love, love, love it. Might be my favorite thing to do. I love pillows, blankets, a soft mattress, my pj’s and sleepy socks (yes!) and I still have way too much affection for my 28-year-old teddy bear. It’s possible that I’m just looking to compensate years spend on hard, uncomfortable beds, filled with bed bugs and unwashed sheets during my hippy travels… But even so… Oh boy… How I enjoy a good nights’ rest!
For months now, my morning routine has gotten me to wake up stupid early, at five or six in the morning. I love waking up with the birds chattering outside of my window, the sun slowly showing off it’s beautiful morning colors and the peace, peace, peace and quietness of a fresh early start. I have fallen in love with mornings, and you can read more about the importance of a good morning routine in my upcoming Morning-Routine blog.
The reason I love my mornings is because I go to bed on time, and enjoy a high-quality beauty sleep. In turn, the reasons to love sleeping are endless! During your sleep, your body recovers its heart and blood vessels, it reduces the risk of all kinds of diseases and encourages healthy weight and eating habits. Aren’t you jealous of Sleeping Beauty now? Here’s some advice to get yourself a nice beauty sleep too.
1. Go to bed BEFORE you get tired By the time you’re tired, all you want to do is sleep. But there will be tooth-brushing, pajama rituals, clothes folding, etc. Don’t trick yourself into the childish “I’m not tired yet” [whiny voice], but be smart and go to bed way ahead of your toddler alter ego. You will sleep so much better with your left tidy and organized (yes, I am telling you to nicely fold and store your clothes and NOT drop them in a corner).
2. Put your phone in flight mode
This is the moment you don’t want to trigger your brain with flashy incentives. No buzzing during the night will reduce the risk to wake you up at unearthly hours and this way you won’t be tempted to check your phone when you do wake up.
3. End the day on a positive note
Think happy things, feel happy things. Think about the things you like, the things that went well today, how beautiful today was. It doesn't matter how you do it, but don't fall asleep worrying your face off. Meditate on the positive things. Every night I make a list of at least three things that I am grateful for. This forces me to end the day on a positive note, and I love the feeling of my body being filled with gratitude. It makes me even happier. And I love being happy!
4. Say goodnight
Sometimes I meditate too, I meditate myself to sleep, and meditate my body goodnight. I use a full body meditation in which I focus all my sleepy energy on every single body part of my body. And literally tell them goodnight, followed by a deep belly breath. First my toes (“goodnight toes, thank you for providing me balance today”), then my feet (“goodnight foot, thank you for carrying me today”), then my leg, then my knee, and then my other leg. By the time I get to my back and shoulders, the yawns start coming. And when I say goodbye to my sleepy little face, I fall into a deep, deep sleep.
Then the alarm goes, a soft and gentle alarm. I feel rested, full of energy, and thrive on the love, peace and gratitude I filled my body with the night before.