Better sleep, better days. So many struggle to “turn off” at night and sleep in a way that is truly restorative. We have designed a special nighttime meditation series to melt away tension and invite a restful night’s sleep.
Very often we heard people say: “I’m so tired and can’t sleep.” “I close my eyes and rest but I don’t sleep.” Not sleeping well can be normal – sounds mad doesn’t it? For sleep, you will spend roughly a third of your life doing it, yet 68% struggle with it, 36% get less than the recommended amount, and only 1/10 views it as a priority. Why is sleep so important? Read on. It’s not just about sleeping. It’s about quality of living.
Insomnia and sleep deprivation effects (anxiety & fear)
Anyone who has ever had insomnia or been sleep deprived can attest to the anxiety, fear and desperation that not being able to sleep brings on. Sleep is so critical to your daily functioning, your mental well-being as well as your physical health.
Decisions, decisions, decisions
You make on average 35,000 decisions a day. But when you don’t get enough sleep, your ability to make decisions decreases as does your ability to problem-solve and stay focused. When you don’t get enough sleep, your productivity decreases, tasks take longer to finish, your reaction time is slower and you make more mistakes. Getting enough sleep is therefore critical to your everyday functioning.
Healthy body
While you sleep, your blood vessels and heart are healing and repairing. Hormone balance responsible for growth and development, blood sugar levels and hunger are also dependent on good sleep. Sleep triggers normal growth, in children, and cell and tissue repair in children and adults. When you don’t get enough sleep, you don’t react to insulin the same way, which leads to higher blood sugar levels and an increased risk for diabetes. The balance between your “I’m hungry” and “I’m full” hormones is also off, which means you feel hungrier than when you are well-rested.
Memory and mental well-being
Getting good sleep improves your learning. While you sleep, your brain is forming new pathways so you can learn and remember things. When you don’t get enough sleep, not only is your ability to learn compromised, but also your ability to manage your emotions, cope with change and interact with others. National Institute of Health
Chronic disease and illness
Sleep is important for your long-term health. Not getting enough sleep is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity and depression. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
When you don’t get enough sleep, you can’t fight colds and infections as well. People who get less than 6 hours of sleep are 4.2 times more likely to get sick.
Now that we understand what lacking of sleep does to our body and mind, next step is to “Beat insomnia and reach your goals”
Imagine, for a moment, waking up feeling rested and clear-headed; having the energy to get through the day, doing what you need to do, being focused and adaptable, ready to deal with any situation.
You need energy and a clear mind to overcome obstacles, reach your goals, feel purposeful and in control and create meaningful connections with people. Getting good sleep is about your body and mind repairing and staying healthy. When you sleep better, you will be more productive, your capacity to learn will increase, you will be happier and healthier.
How meditation can treat insomnia
Meditation decreases insomnia, fatigue and depression. In one study, a group of 49 adults with difficulty sleeping were placed in one of two groups: meditation or sleep education. The groups met six times over six weeks. At the end of the six weeks, the meditation group had decreased insomnia, fatigue and depression scores compared to the sleep education group. In another study, a group of 30 adults with insomnia participated in a 6-week intervention. The group that practiced meditation, again, had a significant decrease in insomnia scores.
If you’re not sleeping or struggling to stay asleep and sleeping pills do nothing and you’re wondering how I can fix my insomnia, perhaps meditation holds the key. During our online meditation – Better Sleep Series, you will be led through a progressive relaxation technique and guided meditation to gently release the thoughts of the day. Naturally, your body and mind will quiet down, allowing for a comfortable, rejuvenating night’s sleep.
