So, are any of us out there getting enough sleep? A casual ask-around of friends and family members (or a quick read of Facebook status updates) reveals some contradictory information to a 2007 study of Women's Sleep Habits, compiled by the "National Sleep Foundation". (By the way, could you imagine working there? Must be awkward at cocktail parties: "Hi, nice to meet you, Peter. What do you do?" "I work for the National Sleep Foundation." "Oh. Sounds. Interesting. Oh, look, I think I have to refresh my wife's drink...")
So, this 2007 survey of women shows that most women claim to get 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 hours of sleep per night. Depending on age, some women fall asleep earlier in the evening, some later, but the waking time is, on average, 8 hours later. Are they lying? Just so they look "good" to the Sleep Foundation? I only say this because I know a LOT of people who report that they have insomnia (which technically is "having trouble falling asleep". Perhaps once they get to sleep, they stay there for 8 hours) or say they are tired.
A closer look at the statistics shows that nearly 30 percent of the women say they are getting a good night of sleep "only a few nights per month". Aha! So, you may be asleep, but it's not a good, deep, restful sleep. This is probably the case with me. I think I pretty much consistently log in between 6 and 7 hours a night: bed around 11, wake around 6. (Thanks, kids) I used to be a staunch "10 pm lights out" kinda girl, but now that we have Netflix through the Wii, I find myself trying to squeeze in just one more episode of Weeds (they are only 23 minutes, afterall...) so I'm a little later to bed.
Nevertheless, despite my 6 or 7 hours, I still feel exhausted by the time I wake in the morning. I feel stiff and sore (even questioning whether I have the stamina for a yoga practice today!), figuring "Maybe I just overdid it on the mat yesterday, and I need a day to 'recover'". Who am I kidding. I did YOGA. Not run a Marathon. Yoga is supposed to help calm and relax the body/mind, readying it for an introspective meditation. But I never take that introspection, now that I think about it. I finish my Savasana, roll up my mat, and bolt from the studio to drive my kids to camp/playdate/where ever. Hmmm... Maybe there's something to this...
So, the Sleep Foundation says that a good night of sleep is vital to our Health and Well-being. All mammals need sleep. It regulates mood, and is related to learning and memory. Regular, quality sleep helps you to recharge your battery so you can learn new skills, stay on task, and be productive (huh! Maybe I should print this out to share with my 8th graders right around their assessments!). Sleep is a critical factor in health, weight, and energy, and it is recommended that you get 7-9 hours per night. Wow. Mention health and weight, and you have my attention (she who has gained 5 pounds since the start of summer, damn Mojitos and Caipirhinas!) Speaking of which, Alcohol does not help the cause, in case you were wondering. You might feel sleepy, but it won't help you sleep any better and your sleep won't be any more restful.
So what do I need to do? Well, for starters, Husband and I are getting a new bed. We're stepping it up a notch by going from a full to a queen. We have nightly visits from a certain 4 year old who likes to sleep sideways on our lumpy full-sized mattress, despite the fact that his twin mattress is the newest and most comfortable in the house! Will having more room and a newer, less lumpy mattress help the cause? We'll see. It takes a while for the bed to get the appropriate upholstery and be shipped to us, so you may have to be patient before I report back tangible results. For now, I think I may just need to honor a meditation after my asana today (and the next day).
Patience gives the power to practice; practice gives the power that leads to perfection - from my teabag this morning.
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