Last month, I’ve written a lot about how important it is to get adequate sleep. Are You Truly Getting Enough Sleep? I’ve talked about how sleep helps you fight and prevent disease, how it helps you look better and how it can boost your mood and help you manage your weight.
But there’s one thing I haven’t written about yet this month, although it may be one of the most fun and rewarding aspects of getting your quality sleep, and that is…
Getting good sleep helps you think more creatively!
Stress or Challenges? Bring it On!
People who regularly get the sleep they need are much more able to handle the stress and challenges that may arise in their everyday lives. It’s inevitable that you’ll feel stress at some point, even if you’re one of the most organized people in town. If you’ve gotten enough sleep, the obstacles won’t feel like as big a deal because your mind can more easily see the bigger picture.
You’ll have more self-control, more enthusiasm and more clarity and focus.
It’s been proven over and over again that people who get a good night’s rest have an easier time solving problems, sorting through complicated issues, and dealing with emotions. 10 times out of 10, the person who slept well can curtail any challenge that comes their way in a much more effective manner.
Creative Thinking & Memory Boosts
Part of the reason that good sleepers are better at handling problems is that their creative facility and their memory abilities are in tip-top shape. You can strengthen memories or practices that you learn during the day when you sleep at night, giving yourself a better overall sense of the big picture when you awaken the next morning.
When I was in college I would study right before going to bed. When I was sleeping, my memory processed the material and I was better able to retain the information the next day.
Since sleep so successfully helps us remember things, it is a great tool to use if you’re trying to learn something new (physical or mental). Of course, you can learn the new thing up to a certain point with daily practice, but when you sleep on it you’ll learn it better. No one can explain this, but when you sleep, something happens to the memory cells that helps the information stay put!
In addition to memory, sleep will get your creative juices flowing. How many times have you gotten a great night of sleep and woken up the next morning with an amazing idea?
Sometimes after I sleep really well, I take a pen and paper and write down all my incredible ideas to make sure they’re captured. I’ll sit back and think, “Where is this coming from? Was it hidden away in a trunk in my brain that sleep just happened to unlock?”
Sleep helps the brain reorganize and restructure things you may have learned during the day to come up with new, creative ideas that it wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
Know Your Number
It’s important to know how much sleep you need to make yourself function best because it will truly affect your quality of life. Some people only need 6 hours of sleep, and other people need 9 hours of sleep to accomplish the same level of restfulness.
This week, I encourage you to pay close attention to your sleep habits: how many hours do you need to wake up feeling wonderfully refreshed? How many hours is too little, or too many?
If you’re ready to make some changes to improve your health naturally, let’s talk. Click HERE to schedule some complimentary private time with me and I’ll do everything I can to help you live your best and healthiest life.
Wishing you peace to your mind, wellness to your body and tranquility to your spirit.
Namaste,
Rochel Marie Lawson, RN, AHP, CMS
The Queen of Feeling Fabulous and The Wellness Architect
