Things I Have Learned in my Late 20s#1: Sleep Better

As I near the end of this year, I realize that in several short months, I will turn 30. I am so very excited about the thought of taking on a new decade, learning, changing, growing. I am ambitious and adventurous, and will prize the opportunity to see what becomes of me in the next ten years. I know the last ten have brought many changes. In particular, I have seen a lot of change in myself throughout this last year. God has brought me through a lot of learning experiences, and I am reacting differently than I used to. Words like discipline, responsibilities, Organization, and work, do not evoke the same negative emotions from me as they once did. As I do bills within the last year, I find stress being taken off me as I take care of the necessities. I do not dread spending my money on these life-things like in the past.

I made a short list of a few of the things I have learned in life over the last few years, and thought I would share them with you. (probably in a few separate posts)

Sleep Schedule is Important:

I have always prided myself on being a night owl. I associated sleeping before 1 or 2 o’clock with being either old, or boring, or both; really. My sleep schedule has been irregular since I was a child. I was the kid with the very active imaginative brain who spent time in bed playing in the dark with her teddy bear in made up blanket caves, and could not sleep worth anything. The same followed me in to adulthood. I have been the late night, watching Netflix, chatting with friends, writing stories person. It sounds fun, and like little trouble, but let me tell you what I have noticed:

1- I am less productive at night: When I stay up late, I relax, concentrate on things I view as ‘fun.’ When up earlier in the morning, I focus on responsibilities and things that need to be accomplished.

2- I feel more rested when I sleep earlier and wake earlier: When I go to sleep at a more reasonable hour, it allows my body to get the sleep it needs in order to function at its peak the next day. If I sleep late, it is not that I cant wake early, but the lack of rest does begin to wear on my body in the long run. I have found, lately, that I routinely wake up before my alarm when I get to bed on time, and I don’t feel tired during the day.

3- I make healthier choices all-around: When I get up early, I don’t feel gross, so I want to keep my body running well throughout the day. I drink more water, and tea, less soda. I eat greens and grains, and not so much sugar. I don’t even know how this correlates, but I have noticed a relation between the two.

If sleeping earlier and waking earlier can improve my work, home, and health life, I do not care if I see it as a boring habit or not; I am going to start doing it regularly. After only about a week of doing so: the difference I see in myself is already astounding!