the importance of sleep
We spend a third of our lives asleep, walking the dreamscape. Iโd wager you donโt invest alllll that much energy in your sleeptime habits. Maybe you have a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Maybe you read a book or turn screens off for 30 minutes before bed. Same โ sometimes.
Why donโt we take rest more seriously? I mean I know itโs because we live in a culture that measures our worth by our productivity and so how could we possibly invest more than the absolute minimum into our sleep patterns, but jeesh yโall! Think about all of the things we do during the day: all of the thinking and stewing and standing and stressing. Why donโt we prioritize resting from all of that junk? We gotta have time to process, to dream, to restore.
And I donโt just mean making the time for sleep โ I mean loving and ritualizing and reveling in our rest. Celebrating it! We live in a culture in which productivity and busyness are lauded above all else. There are things to do and people to see and rest becomes a burden. We put it off as long as possible with high-sugar caffeinated energy drinks, gallons of coffee, bright lights, anything to keep us moving for just a little longer. But thatโs exactly why real rest is so revolutionary. Think about all of the ways in which we nourish and celebrate our bodies when we allow them the time they truly need to restore. But how do we make our requisite 6-8 hours a real slumber party??
Indulge, yโall. Iโm talking luxury. Soft (clean) sheets, blackout curtains, earplugs, eye-pillows, body oils, steamy showers, adaptogens, soothing teas, the whole nine!
What other radical, wild practices can you dream up to ritualize your rest?
Here are a few of mine:
CBD + valerian, licorice, nettle, & burdock tincture
Lullabies from my childhood
Transdermal magnesium oil and grounding Vetiver essential oil on the soles of my feet
Candlelit herbal body oiling to support my nervous system in quieting myself down from the day
Quiet, whispered gratitude
The simplest thing but: a clean, well made bed??
Wishing you all the sweetest of dreams,
G ๐
