Sleep is the black wave that eventually overcomes all of us, no matter who we are. The fluttering, closing and opening, of our eyelids is as similar as the waves drawing to and from the shore. Sleep washes over most of us at the end of the day. It is the closing of a chapter and a chance to let go of what had happened earlier in the day to start anew the next. So, why do many of us not allow ourselves to succumb to what is to be a peaceful norm? It is because our brains are refusing to shut off. With the pandemic going on amongst other disturbing things in the world today, it is now more important than ever to escape this world for at least a little while. Because that is all sleep really amounts to be in a 24-hour period, a little while, and then we awake to conquer the next day. Here are some resolutions I'm following in 2022 to bring myself some inner peace. Come, ride this wave!
Shut it off! Technology is useful when we want to amuse ourselves. We go on apps such as Tik Tok to watch silly videos and Facebook to look at hilarious memes. However, these apps can also be detrimental to our sleep routines. This is especially the case if you are scrolling through them before going to sleep and see disturbing things such as news stories or comments from others that you find unsettling. You need to know when enough is enough. Put your phone on "do not disturb" mode, manage your notifications for apps under your settings so you don't receive as many, or simply put your phone out of reach of your bedside. If you need to use technology for your sleep routine, make sure it is strictly for that. Turn on sounds to soothe yourself, look at images of nature that relax you, but do not for any non-emergent reason respond to notifications that pull you out of this routine. Once you disengage from your nightly bedtime routine, it can be extremely difficult to re-engage.
Let it out! Thinking back at the end of the day, it seems as if we should've said all we needed to say. That couldn't be farther from the truth! A lot of us replay what has occurred, earlier in the day, in our mind when we try to relax at the end of it. This fixation can be a common cause of insomnia. Give yourself time to get your emotions out at the end of the day, whether you have a conversation with another person, or a conversation with yourself to process things before entering your sacred sleeping space. Some may laugh at the thought of talking to one's self, but you have to let things out somehow! If you don't feel comfortable talking things through with yourself, another popular way people process things by themselves is journaling. Dedicate time to let it all out and then be done with it! You can also keep a dream journal for documenting and processing dreams you have had at night too! If you have bad dreams and awake, don't let this deter you from your sleep routine. Focus on starting your sleep routine over if you wake up from a bad dream as this will allow you to fall back asleep faster. In turn, you'll benefit from the maximum amount of sleep you can get before awaking the next day.
Change your space! We should feel inclined to transcend and surpass ourselves in what we accomplished in the year prior. We need to embrace change in the new year to move forward. Look around your sleeping space and think about what you might need to improve it! With the holidays that just passed, you can take advantage of sales and using cash or gift cards you were gifted too! Ask yourself important questions about your sleeping space:
- What comforts you?
- What is a distraction?
- What are the necessary changes you need to make to improve your sleep?
These are just a few questions you can ask yourself, while also coming up with your own questions, and answer to best take control of your space.
My bedtime routine consists of writing or reading before bed in order to process things and put myself in a relaxing state of mind. While doing these activities, I have my diffuser and salt rock lamp on. I snuggle up into my comfortable bedding and I'm ready to let the wave come over me. I have already completed my nightly hygiene tasks and set my alarm for the next workday before my bedtime routine began. Bedtime routines will be different for everyone based off their own personal needs and preferences, but you shouldn't give up on finding a nightly bedtime routine for yourself. It can take some adjustment and time to find what works best for you. But everyone deserves restorative sleep in the new year!
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