*This is the eight post in a series about “What I want my kids to know before they leave the nest.”
Question for you: How do you view sleep?
A. As a gift necessary for my wellbeing
B. As an interruption to my life
Truth be told, we’re a sleep-deprived nation. Somehow, we’ve come to believe a lie – that sleep isn’t really that important. We push into the corners of our calendars and brag about how little we need.
Meanwhile, Jesus – in the midst of His mission to save the world – says to His disciples, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31)
Jesus modeled something that we’ve forgotten: There’s a time for work. And a time for rest.
And then there’s this:
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:2)
Our need for sleep isn’t a curse, it’s a gift! It’s an essential part of the rhythm God knit into our being. We need sleep. It’s not optional. We cannot function without it.
Sleep…
- lowers inflammation
- strengthens your immune system
- enhances mental clarity
- improves memory
- regulates hormones
There is actually a lot going on while you’re asleep!
I fear many of us forfeiting the benefits of a full night’s sleep. Instead of thriving, we’re just surviving. In our sleep-deprived stupor, we’ve lost touch with how good we could actually feel if we simply got enough sleep.
Here’s what I tell my kids:
- You were made to thrive, not just survive.
- You cannot thrive when you’re sleep deprived.
- Make it a priority to get 8 hours of sleep every night.
Here’s a few ways to help you get into a healthy rhythm of sleep:
1. Set a sleep schedule and stick to it
2. Optimize your Vitamin D level (60-80)
3. No screens in bedroom (tv, ipads, phones, etc.)
4. Pitch dark = best sleep
5. Get sunlight to eyes first thing in morning
6. Set a caffeine curfew (by 2 pm or earlier)
7. Take magnesium before bed or use topical
8. Keep bedroom cool at night.
9. Exercise in the morning for best sleep at night.
10. Take a warm bath 90 min before bed, if necessary.
Do you make sleep a priority? Leave a comment and let me know!
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I almost never sleep all the way through the night. Some nights I am awake for a few minutes, other nights I am awake for more than an hour.
I hear you! I always get up once (or twice?) to use the bathroom, but fortunately I usually go right back to sleep. On the rare occasion I’m awake in the night, I use it to pray for people. It’s definitely frustrating not to be able to sleep and certainly worth looking into what’s causing it. Caffeine too late in the day – after 2 pm…or hormonal imbalances? Hopefully you’re getting enough even with the interruption if you’re going to bed by 10 pm?