Love Yourself and Get Some Sleep

Our generation has become increasingly aware of the importance of self-love, which also manifests itself in the strive for self-improvement. We are constantly told to improve our eating habits, our exercise habits, and of course, our self-appreciation. However, one crucial factor in our lifestyle is often neglected when trying to improve: our sleep.

People often prefer to cut their sleep short to get a workout in at the gym at 5 am before work. College environments can subconsciously promote an unhealthy sleeping pattern by encouraging procrastination that leads to the infamous ‘all-nighters’. Sleep is often the first healthy habit that gets thrown out of the window to make space for something else - be that healthy or not. ​ However, this line of argument completely disregards the importance of sleep. Sleep is essential for us, as humans, for a reason. Instead of thinking about sleep as lost time, we should start thinking about sleep as a very active and important period of our lives. A lot of processing and restoration occurs while we sleep, which is equally crucial for our wellbeing. We downplay its importance because we aren’t conscious to witness it. However, good sleep has often been linked with having a positive effect on health and lifestyle factors, such as (i) concentration and productivity, (ii) athletic performance, (iii) depression, (iv) metabolism, (v) immune function, and (vi) emotional stability.

But perfecting your sleep habits can be a long and winding road. Sleeping well is a science, which brings us to consider important questions such as: What is the perfect sleep cycle, and how long should my nap be? What should be the first thing I do when I wake up? What should I not do before I go to sleep? We have all heard of the infamous ‘No more blue-light screens an hour before bed’ - advice, but there are so many more tips available, which can be overwhelming.

So, here are two easy changes to start sleeping well: 1. Create a sleeping schedule and stick to it. Meaning: go to bed and wake up around the same time every day. Over time, it will turn into a habit and your body will wake up by itself when it got enough sleep.

2. Observe yourself continuously. Maybe you want to use a sleeping tracker, or maybe you want to keep a journal next to your bed. Start being aware of when you feel well-rested after a night of sleep, and when you wake up still feeling drained. Then, begin to match your observed behaviors with your observed attitudes by asking yourself: were you on your phone in bed or did you read? Did you drink alcohol the night before? Were you restless because of your to-do list? Was your room temperature warm or cold? Did you eat right before going to bed or a little while earlier? There are countless factors that can influence sleeping quality, and the only way to find out what is impacting your sleep is by observing what affects you. ​

Making good sleep a priority in your life instead of a burden will help you with all other aspects of your daily routine. So as an act of self-love, go to bed and feel good about it!