“I’m in the mood for love…simply because you’re near me…funny, but when you’re near me…I’m in the mood for love.”
Are you familiar with that song? Several different people sang it…Barbara Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, to name a few. Well, I’d like to take a stab at singing it, only I have changed the lyrics a bit…I’m in the mood for sleep…simply because I’m tired…Funny, but when I’m tired…I’m in the mood for sleep. How do you like it?
You know what’s even funnier?
I can still hear my mother say, “Girl, take your butt to bed”, when as a little girl I tried to do everything in my power to stay up past my bedtime. Of course I didn’t realize it then but I am certainly aware of it now, and that is this…sleep is critical to our well-being and health!
Not only is sleep critical to our health and well-being but ritualizing our bedtime is the key to a restful and good night’s sleep.
So how do you ritualize your bedtime? I’m sure you remember as a child doing these very things before going to sleep. My bedtime ritual went something like this…
- a nice warm bubble bath
- cozy pj’s
- saying my prayers (Now I lay me, down to sleep…)
- my mother reading me a bedtime story (The Little Engine That Could…my favorite book
- being tucked in nice and snug
- light’s out
- a good night kiss…and before I knew it, I was gone!
That bedtime ritual never failed at putting me in the mood for sleep.
In fact it signaled to my body and mind (even as a child) that it was sleepy time. So what was your bedtime ritual? Do you have one now? If not, I think it’s a good idea to get one because I believe a good nights sleep is the cure for many of the things that ail us.
- Do you need more energy? Get more sleep!
- Would you like to be less cranky? Get more sleep!
- Would you like to be more productive at work? Get more sleep!
- Do you need less stress in your life? Get more sleep!
- Could you stand to be more focused? Get more sleep!
- Are your working towards being healthier? Get more sleep!
- Are you trying to lose weight? Get more sleep! (Exchange the snacks for some shut eye)
I like this quote from Shawn Stevenson’s book, “Sleep Smarter”, which says:
Isn’t that powerful? The point is to stop pushing yourself. Stop burning the candles at both ends. Listen to your body. Honor your body. Give your body what it needs…and that’s rest and sleep!
Practice getting in the mood for sleep.
What exactly does that mean? Well, that means to get in the “habit” of relaxing. Learn how to power down, shut it off, unplug and decompress each night before bed. Here are some ideas for powering down and getting yourself and your body in the mood for sleep.
- Take a nice warm bubble bath
- Listen to some soothing and calm music
- Pray
- Meditate
- Journal
- Count your blessings by listing them in a gratitude journal
- Read
- Turn off the TV
- Turn off all devices (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.)
- Stretch
- Drink some sleepy time tea (caffeine free of course)
All of these ideas are not for everyone and certainly this is not an exhaustive list.
Find what works for you and work it! Practice automating your nightly routine by powering down and going to bed at the same time each night…just as you did when you were a child, and reap the benefits of a well rested you!
In addition to getting yourself in the mood for sleep, prepare your environment so that it is rest and sleep friendly
- Don’t take work to bed with you (no need to hang your head in shame…I’ve done it too)
- Keep the room temperature comfortable at the recommended temp of 68 degrees (this may be too cool for some, but the point is to keep the room cooler rather than hot and stuffy)
- Declutter your sleeping space (a cluttered space creates a cluttered mind)
- Create a serene atmosphere: soft music, spray some lavender in the room, which can eliminate nervous tension, close the curtains
Think of bedtime and sleep as a time to replenish, repair, refresh and release because that’s exactly what it is. The more you practice this habit, the healthier and happier you will be!
Your Turn To Share
What are some of your bedtime routines? Do they help prepare you for a good nights sleep? If not, what is your plan for changing them?