Reframe your relationship with sleep, and give your body the rest it needs.
– KEYS SOULCARE
It may be tempting to squeeze every bit of “productivity” that you can from each minute of the day. After all, society has framed moments of pause as the polar opposite of productivity.
But what if we questioned the notion of productivity altogether and made a shift from constantly tackling to-do lists, to carving out time to feed mind, body, and spirit? While that will look different for each of us, there is one essential everyone needs: sleep.
Why is Rest Important?
There are a growing number of voices speaking out about the importance of intentionally taking breaks before your breaking point: thought leaders like Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post and founder and CEO of Thrive Global, and Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry.
“By helping us keep the world in perspective, sleep gives us a chance to refocus on the essence of who we are. And in that place of connection, it is easier for the fears and concerns of the world to drop away,” wrote Huffington in her book The Sleep Revolution, which details how her body betrayed her as a result of sleep deprivation.
Tips to Take the Best Nap
To unpack our individual relationship with the act of sleeping, our perceived worthiness of rest, and moments truly for self, we each have the power to create new habits to get high quality, well-earned naps. This means no longer accepting what gets us by, but striving for that which gives us room to reset, and even dream. If you need a little guidance to get in your perfect nap, here are these simple tips on setting yourself up for sleep success.
1. When to take a nap: before 3p.m.
The general rule is to take a nap eight or more hours before your usual bedtime, which for the average person would be before 3p.m.
2. How long should a nap be: 20 minutes
The ideal nap time for adults is 20 minutes and should be no longer than 30 minutes. This short time frame allows your body to get some light sleep and feel better rested but avoid falling into deep sleep, which can leave you feeling more groggy than when you laid down.
3. Create a sleep-friendly environment
A healthy sleep environment is somewhere quiet, dark and set to a comfortable temperature where you can set aside your worries and separate yourself from the hustle and bustle of the day. Things like eye masks, ear plugs, blackout curtains and relaxing noise machines can all support a sleep-friendly environment.
Cultural Impact on our Relationship with Rest
There are cultural roots to our society’s approach to sleep. Activist, artist, and community healer Tricia Hersey addresses the narrative from the stance of resistance and liberation via her online platform The Nap Ministry. By dissecting the ties between rest and racism, and our country’s complicated history with human capital, sleep is presented as an act of self possession, not indulgence.
“Even when presented with free time, many of you would still not rest. You would push on and find a way to grind and not pause,” Hersey writes. ”The high you get from doing too much is deep-seated. It will be a slow, meticulous process to unravel from this addiction.”
Fighting Sleep is a Losing Battle: Embrace Resting
It’s time to ditch the toxicity of hustle culture and embrace what your body and soul need: sleep. Reframe your relationship with sleep, and give your body the rest it needs.
Related Stories
