Getting Out of Bed: The 10 Secrets of Mind Over Mattress
Posted by Steve Munroe | Under Life Thursday May 15, 2008
The secret to getting up early? There is no secret really, its simply ensuring that you get enough quality sleep. However that in itself can be challenging. Many of us are too overworked, stressed, wired up, worried or distracted to develop healthy sleeping practices. So in celebration of the wonders of a good night’s sleep, here a few suggestions to help get you up the stairway to heaven to bedfordshire, and ensure you wake up the other side feeling refreshed and energized with a mind that’s kick ass clear!
- Go to bed early (basic but true!). Try to discipline yourself to getting to bed at least an hour before midnight. Its been said that every hour asleep before midnight is worth 2 hours after.
- Read fiction before bed. Technical books are likely to make your mind too active, and fiction provides the right imaginative precursors to dreaming.
- Do not think about work/problems/to do lists/conversations you have had/will have. These are the wrong types of mind activity to be engaging in before bedtime.
- Do something physical at least once during the day. Body tiredness is way better than sleeping pills. A jog after work is incredibly de-stressing and sets you up for a great night’s sleep.
- Drink something warm and non caffeinated. Milk is good, though tea with milk works for me also.
- Work out your next day priorities and to do’s early in the evening (even better to do them at the end of your work day). Get your tasks out of your head on on paper where they can do no harm (a la GTD).
- Establish a habit of getting up early. Do this even on the weekend. Let habit do all the hard work for you.
- Get older! For some people the natural aging process sorts out waking issues. I’m not talking pensionable age here either, some bed heads in their twenties transform into early birds in their thirties (not me unfortunately
). - If your mind is too active, put food in your belly. I’ve used this before and it works for me. If I can’t stop thinking, I go eat something light then go back to bed. My mind usually quietens down as my body focuses on digesting.
- Finally, live life the best you can. A clear conscience is a surefire way to sleep soundly.
