Sleep Is Self-Care
A few months ago, I came to the realization that sleep is crazy important. This made me get super focused on getting to bed on time and getting enough sleep. However, I was not being compassionate with myself when I failed to get adequate sleep. This second realization drove home to me that sleep is self-care. It should not be a pressure-filled experience. When you stress out about your sleep, it negatively impacts your sleep. Therefore, I want to start considering sleep self-care. No more shall I consider it something that needs to get done. That is the language one uses around chores. Sleep is not a chore; sleep is self-care.
You *Get* to Sleep
I want to try a mindset shift. Instead of telling myself that I need to get to bed. I am going to start telling myself that I get to go to bed. As I said above, sleep is not a chore. I want it to be a marvelous, comfortable thing.
Splurge on Sleep
Make sleep luxurious. Yes, it is important to be frugal and keep one’s expenses to a minimum. One way to do that is to avoid luxurious items. However, there are certain areas where you do not want to save money. Sleep is far too important to one’s health to try to save money by purchasing inferior sleep items. When buying a new mattress, do not buy a bargain brand bed. Find a bed with some science behind it. Make your focus when purchasing a new mattress improving your sleep, not saving money. Get a high-quality pillow. Buy fancy sheets that regulate your temperature as you sleep. Get all fancy!
Relax
Remind yourself this is a time for self-soothing. This is not a time to be stressed out. If need be, engage in some relaxation techniques before bed to get you in the right mindset for sleep. Stress can wreak havoc on your sleep, so take proper steps to be as stress-free as possible when you sleep.
Should I Get Up?
One of the things that sparked this new exploration of sleep is my inability to get out of bed right away in the morning. I lay there for 15–30 minutes listening to all three of my alarms go off. Is it making me late for anything? No, I give myself plenty of time in the morning. So, I have decided to be compassionate with myself. Instead of saying, “Come on, Alex. Get up!” I’m asking myself, “How well did I sleep last night? Do I need some more rest before beginning the day?” I have been struggling to stay asleep throughout the night for a couple of months, which is lowering the quality of my sleep. I want to be compassionate around that. Instead of berating myself for not getting up right away, I want to focus on what is best for me.