In my last job, I worked a ridiculous amount of hours a week. I’d be up sometimes before 5 am – doing work at home, getting in a workout if I had the time, and going to bed way, way, way too late. I was averaging 4-5 hours of sleep a night, and that sleep was restless to say the least. It was unhealthy. And my body was starting to react to the lack of sleep and stress I was putting on myself. The bad reactions included anxiety, migraines, and so much more.
Recently, I’ve had the luxury to have a little time off before I start a new job. And I’ve taken full advantage. I sleep. I exercise. I eat better. I relax. But one of the most important things is really the sleep and taking care of myself. On average I am now getting 7-8 hours of sleep. Yes to some that may not seem like much still, as I know some of my friends depend on 9 hours if they can get it. However, 7-8 feels like a luxury and more than that makes me sluggish during the day rather than refreshed. I could probably go on 6-7 and be good, and I’ll keep that in mind for when I start the new job, but for now, I’m leaning more towards 8 when I can.
And what results have I gotten from this rest?
- My skin feels healthier and clear 99% of the time
- I have less headaches and migraines overall (I’m still prone to them, but a lot less)
- I have more energy for exercise, and not just the 20 minutes I tried to get in before, but a minimum of 60 minutes 5-6 times a week
- I have more motivation during the day outside of the regular adulting and chores
- I’m more excited to get up, and not dreading it
These may seem like simple and logical things, but it’s easy to forget what good sleep feels like. It’s easy to forget what feeling refreshed and well rested is supposed to be. The real normal of sleep. Not the lack of it, that had become my normal.
Cheers to more sleep, people.
#radiatedaily
image source – pixabay
