To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question for many of us. The priority of sleep matters whatever stage of life we’re in, from infancy to our last days.
Infants, parents of infants, stressed teens or adults, and/or older adults wrestling with sleep issues.enges. Infants, children, and teens need extra sleep for brains to process and develop adequately. Parents of said children need sleep to be able to parent them well. As adults, many issues can interfere with sleep, some we have control over and others we don’t. Older adults often have their sleep interrupted by changing physical conditions and surroundings. Numerous variables impact our sleep, but the one thing that is constant is how important sleep is to our mental and physical wellness.
The Priority of Sleep
An article reminded me of what’s at stake with sleep and our memories. Our brain links memories with the rest of our world when we sleep. If this process doesn’t occur for whatever reason, we wind up not functioning as well mentally or physically the next day. Our memories are impacted and we cannot make decisions well. None of these are helpful as we try to function and learn whether as children or adults. Instead, we need to control what we can and manage the rest.
Here are a few helpful tips when sleep challenges arise:
- Make sleep a priority. Don’t put it off thinking you can make it up later. Set a bedtime and try to stick to it. If you literally can’t sleep as much as you should due to unforeseen circumstances, do your best to get as much as you can and get back on track ASAP.
- Don’t do anything but sleep. Don’t eat or watch TV, don’t worry, or wonder. Let it all go and rest. Write down any concerns you have, try to relax, and let sleep come. Often new solutions appear when we lay down our worries with our heads.
- Try to plan for contingencies. If physical issues could cause problems while sleeping, take preventative measures. If too hot, use a fan. If in discomfort, try a new position or different pillow arrangements. Think ahead to solve some issues in advance.
- If sleep deprived, try a nap. If a good night’s sleep was missed, a short (~30 minute) nap the next day can be incredibly helpful and refreshing.
- Keep trying. There will be days and even weeks when sleep eludes us for various reasons in life. But let’s not slide into bad habits. Keep trying to get back on track to a healthy sleep schedule. Our bodies and minds will thank us.
Sleep is an integral part of our lives from birth to death. How we learn to manage and make it a priority in our lives will make an enormous difference in the quality of our lives. So here’s to sleeping well, remembering more and enjoying life one moment at a time.