I did a guided meditation today to try to figure out why I keep forgetting things. While I had many deep thoughts about my work-life balance, my greatest takeaway was that I need sleep. I often imagine that I can get by with less sleep than science tells me, but it never works out. I need at least 7 hours for my brain to allow me to be my best self. And because I need to intellectualize things to believe them, I studied the science again to convince myself:
- National Geographic "Sleepless in America": http://www.aasmnet.org/articles.aspx?id=5233 and http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/sleepless-in-america/episodes/sleepless-in-america/
- Atlantic article on newest sleep recommendations: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/02/how-much-sleep-is-normal/385075/
- Radiolab podcast on sleep: http://www.radiolab.org/story/91528-sleep/
Update 9/19: I got 12 hours of sleep last night. I did not know previously that that much sleep was even possible. It was catalyzed both by the senior retreat and by my body fighting off illness. What strikes me, though, is the extent to which I am in the driver's seat of my sleep. I have to give my sleep permission; I could have easily awoken first thing if I had let myself. The key is intentionality. I know that I feel better when I get sleep. And so I am going to figure out a way to get the sleep I need consistently. Last night is continued proof that I need it!
No comments:
Post a Comment