Sleep for your Brain
I was kissed this morning. Lifted with the sunrise when it planted a big ol kiss on my cheek. That’s how I woke up. Sleep is the preciousness in my life. My kids, my friends, the love that surrounds me…and the quality of my sleep.
In Ayurveda, 10 pm is the time of sleep. It is thought that if you are not aligned with the 10 pm bedtime, you are not only missing your best sleep time, but it is more challenging to get yourself sleepy enough to go to bed when you want to. In other words, if you miss the sleepy train that travels in at that sweet spot of 10-10:30ish, then, you’re stuck getting on the old familiar 10:37 pm non stop to Doritoville and Netflix. It is also thought, some say, the sleep you get before midnight, is the most important and nourishing sleep we have all night.
Sleep (which is basically two levels: REM and NON REM) gives your brain time to download the day and experiences. We go into this more deeply in the Inner Circle but this time is so crucial to the health of our brains, it is the number one most important habit in what I teach all year. All of our 12 Habits are possible at their highest levels when we have a good night sleep. I ask the hygge “What’s the best way to have a great day?”. “To wake up refreshed!” And that starts with a good bedtime.
I like to start my Bedtime routine as I am cleaning up from dinner. We’ve learned, as we clean up from the meal, we’re picking up around the house, putting things on the calendar, taking out garbage, running dishwasher, thinking of what items we need by the front door for tomorrow, packing lunches, taking a long walk with the family and the dog….you know. So, from 6 pm (Dinner time - we’ll talk about ayurvedic timing for meals in February) we are shutting down the ship and closing up the shop. Having a Bedtime Routine like this one encourages, and protects, that sacred 8-10 pm (KAPPHA Time) as quiet, introspective; using time to connect with family, stretching out, journaling or big belly laughing will directly influence the way we feel (physically and emotionally) the next day. It is also the time that all of the busy-ness and comings and goings of your day: the emails, the driving, the outward energy begins to turn inward. Calming inward. Then, oh, yes, you’re off to a nourishing night of sleep. Sleeping well becomes a habit.
Building a Bedtime Routine is in the Inner Circle for the entire month of December.
Wednesdays at 11 am central
Mondays at 7 pm central
Follow along on my youtube channel or join our Hygge at the button below. Ask yourself: What might be different about your life if you were getting a good night sleep and building healthy habits in your life on a continous basis? Join us for 3 months.
Today’s Ponder:
I invite you to put yourself to bed tonight with intention.
What time do you want to go to sleep?
Whatcha gonna wear?
Plan it out.
Your tomorrow starts with what you do today.
Good luck.
Kim
Disclaimer: Every time I write a blog post I think of you all out there with a red pen correcting all of my many mistakes, but it keeps me from writing. This is me letting loose with my out loud ponderings without worry. I’m enjoying it.
This is our precious life. I’d love to hear how it is going for you.