Our lives are designed not for the optimal functioning of our bodies, but for the fast-paced lifestyles we have created. We have only so many hours in the day and we try to cram as much as possible into those hours. If imbalances are created, this can lead to illness, disease, and early mortality.
The body is an afterthought in the modern world, almost an accessory instead of the vehicle that carries us and allows us to experience all that life offers. We think of it from a standpoint of vanity, trying to make it look a certain way. Or we disregard it completely and indulge ourselves to the point of obesity and discomfort. We often don’t acknowledge what our bodies need until something goes wrong.
Action – We often eat not when we are hungry, but by the clock. We also try to force sleep at designated times. Judging by how many sleep aids are on the market and the billions of dollars that are spent in its pursuit, something has gone wrong with a function that should be the most natural thing for us to do.
The quality of your sleep is a good indicator of your overall health. It isn’t the number of hours you get, but the state of restfulness that you feel. Some people are fine with three hours of sleep while others need nine. This is as unique to you as is the nose on your face.
We need to sleep when we are tired. Taking a short 15-minute nap during the day can solve many problems by allowing the mind to shut down and the body to relax. It is the constant state of stress and agitation in which we live that paves the road towards disease, and a lack of sleep exacerbates the situation.
Steps – If you are groggy during the day, find a way to rest. Set an alarm and close your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes if you are overwhelmed with sleepiness. But use this as a warning sign, especially if you are eating too much sugar or drinking too much caffeine to stay alert. There may be problems brewing.
The pursuit of optimal health is multi-faceted. Diet, lack of exercise, environmental contaminants, anxiety, and many other factors put the body under a great deal of stress. Some of these things are under your control and some aren’t, so take the actions necessary to change what you can. While eliminating all sources of stress is impossible, minimizing them is doable.
Why It Makes You Feel Better – A lack of quality sleep affects every aspect of life. In the short term it can affect mood, the ability to learn, and can predispose you to injury or accidents. In the long term it is far more serious, contributing to many health problems including depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and early mortality.
A nap gives you a chance to reset when you need it the most. If you are struggling to keep your eyes open, take this as a sign that you might be in an imbalanced state. Give your mind and body the rest it is begging for and then take a good look at your lifestyle and how it is affecting your health. Nothing else will matter to you if your health is compromised.
Example – If you grab a sugary treat in the morning and then feel sleepy afterwards, this is a behaviour you can easily change. If you aren’t getting adequate rest at night, try not eating anything within at least three hours of going to bed. Work your body during the day with regular exercise and you will find that sleep comes more easily.
Lifestyle changes can happen overnight if you are committed enough, but until you make the changes necessary, grab a nap when you need it. Don’t ignore the signals your body gives you until it becomes a big problem.