Tag: wellness

Clutter, shopping, binge watching television shows, and social media along with countless other habits have become the go to distraction of most people in modern society. What happens when you take those away? The consequence is, boredom and feelings. That’s right when you take away the dopamine high provided by a great deal, or the stylish fit, or that season finale every episode is a build up to, you are left open and bare.

A realization I had and left me feeling melancholy. Until I made a change.

What was the cure for my mental angst?

Getting up before the dawn. That’s the life I lead now I get up when my body is ready no matter what time. So far, it’s been a great experience but some days it’s like well shit now what do I do. Here’s the answer.  

When people find out that I get up at 3am they think I’m some kind of extremist and then they find out I’m an aspiring minimalist. They’re like oh she’s one of those self-improvement assholes. But I’m not really. I didn’t wake up one day and have all these habits. It started with one need. Sleep.

I learned about circadian rhythms watching one of my favorite shows Big Bang Theory. Then I found out that the bed we sleep on, a Sleep Number, has this app that helps give you biofeedback. Within that app after sleeping on the bed for months, I found what my optimal wake up and bedtime were. Then I saw a TikTok that said getting up at the same time each day and going to bed as well were optimal for your health and wellbeing. At this point I felt like the universe was all but screaming at me.

So I made the decision to wake up and go to bed at the same time each day and listen to my body. At first the story I was telling myself is this is stupid, people will think your stupid, what will you do with the time. In all these internal stories I was the narrator and author of in my own head. Once I started doing it I’ll admit it took me weeks before it became a habit. And honestly, I would drink three cups of coffee and scroll, then I started watering my plants, reading, replying to email. Eventually my husband started getting up with me and we learned the value of easing into your day.

Easing into a day is our favorite thing when we camp and vacation. The luxury of not having to rush and have things done by a certain time make our days so much more enjoyable. Since we developed the habit of early to rise early to bed other habits have followed. We work out 4-5xs a week. We have breakfast and dinner together. I usually pack his lunch and my own for the day. We have opportunities to be around each other and exist and just have conversations that come up organically. There are tons of great benefits to this choice. We wake up and look forward to each day. The sense of dread over the day starting has been eliminated. We can spend hours before we have to be anywhere being around each other and tandem scrolling, drinking coffee, sitting on the porch or reading. I water my plants, meditate, say affirmations, make our bed, and am usually ready to leave by 8AM. Sooner if the days’ plans require. We both no longer have any need for sleep aide. We’ve both been fighting insomnia for almost ten years. On average we get about 7-8 hours of sleep a night. I’m beyond happy with the way I live my daily life at this point. Which unfortunately is something that most people can’t say. And to think it all started with getting up before the dawn would bring me the greatest sense of joy?

What say you? Are you going to find your circadian rhythm?

For the past 25 years I have been on the journey to have a consistent and wonderful sleep. After having my first child at 18 and living through the newborn phase I was desperate for our daughter to sleep through the night. When she finally did, I developed insomnia. For the past 25 years it was popped up here and there and when it does, I can’t even form a complete thought, and all the areas of my life suffer. So now as a 43-year-old perimenopausal woman I want to share all the tips and tricks that I have implemented to pursue the perfect consistent nights sleep 

Phase I

These are easy and cost-effective tips that you spend very little on or nothing at all. 

1. Go to bed at the same time every day and wake up at the same time in the morning. 
2. Have a sound machine or download a sound machine app and play sounds that make you feel calm. For me it’s thunderstorms, the ocean and a crackling fireplace.
3. Depending on whatever part of the country you are in a, but a humidifier can be helpful.
4. Keep your room cool with a ceiling fan, AC, or a fan blowing on your face while you sleep.
5. Having bedded and blankets that make the most sense. Did you know in Europe people have their own sets of blankets in the same bed. Would that work for you and your partner?
6. My bedroom used to be where the laundry piled up and the most random things lived. Instead, now my bedroom is my sanctuary, and I always wake up and go to bed with it neat, tidy, and clean. 
7. Make your bed up every morning or before you come to bed to sleep. My motto is Present day Bri is all about making Future Bri’s live easier. 
8. Essential oil diffusers with the use of lavender essential oils or whatever calms you can be helpful for some people.
9. No screens before bed. 

Phase II

These are the tips that cost more than normal that I was able to implement as I was older, and my resources changed. 

1. Sleep number bed. I snore and the snore setting raises me up enough to eliminate that and keeps me from needed to use a CPAP machine which I hate. 
2. Having a full workup of your blood. I was low on Vitamin D and Magnesium. Now I take the supplement every night along with prescription level Vitamin D. 
3. If you can’t do a Sleep Number bed invest in the mattress that is the most comfortable for you. 
4. Luxurious sheets, pillows, and comforters. Whatever makes you the most comfortable. 
5. Black out curtains and blinds. Keeping all light out helps you wind down and understand it’s time for bed.
6. A grounding mat or sheet that plugs into the bottom of the plug. This is supposed to help you connect with the earths vibration and contribute to more rest. (I don’t do this anymore because I don’t have a thyroid, and it can affect my medicines absorption.
7. Pajamas, I have the best pjs you can imagine. They are prefect for every season and spent a ton of money on them one Christmas 5 years ago. For me it was worth it, and they have lasted so long it’s worth the investment. 

Phase III

This part may not be for you because it’s what some people would call Woo Woo or Superstitious but after doing all these things consistently I have an amazing sleep most evenings. 

1. What is your circadian rhythm? Google how to figure it out and then if you have the ability plan your life around it. 
2. I keep nothing under my bed. I store nothing under the bed. In Fung Shui it is their belief that a clutter free room and bed beneath allows  the flow of qi (life force energy) and contributes to a restful nights sleep.
3. I keep crystals by my head on my night stand. Amethyst, Citrine, and Obsidian I charge them every full moon and then replace them. 
4. All doors are shut that come into my bedroom from the bedroom door to the closet. 
5. I have not mirrors facing my bed when I sleep. They are all set up in a way that does not face the bed. 
6. I keep plants in my room that contribute to a peaceful environment. And make sure to tend to them. If any are die then I dispose of them accordingly.
7. I do stretches and breathing techniques before I go to bed to release the days tension. And if it was an especially rough day then I sage myself and take a shower. 

We spend 1/3 of our life sleeping and recuperating. While I am no doctor or sleep expert these are just suggestions that I have tried that worked for me at some point in my life. And there have also been times I had to seek a doctors assistance. There is nothing wrong with that. As your own personal steward you have a direct connection to the Divine to know what’s best for you. If you have any suggestions that I haven’t tried please leave em below.