Clumsy, Dopey, Sneezy and Sleepy!
So here I sit in Fredericton, 6:12am getting a good start to my day. I had planned to get an early start to my day, it’s important to get up and get going. Most people beleive that they need to get a lot of sleep and I have found that each of us is so different. To say that everyone needs to get a minnimum of 8 hours of sleep is wrong. Each of us different, each of us has a different size, age, weight and diet. Each of us requires a different set of daily “intakes” such as food, exercise and sleep.
I remember reading an article a few years ago that said that we should get no more the 4.5 hours of sleep, I then read another book that said that we should get many different little sleeps throughout the day. So who is right? How much sleep should we get?
I have found that my key number is about 5. I am more awake and aware through out the day at around five hours of sleep. Does that mean that I don’t like to get a long cozy winters nap? No, I love my warm bed, but I also love having a FULL day of life!
Here is that sleep technique that I coach people on… Go to bed after a full day and set your alarm to go off 10 hours later. During the day track how you feel, are you more or less awake? Do you have a need for sleep or are you more alert? Continue each night taking an hour off your sleeping time, keep tracking your physical and mental energy. Eventually you will find your perfect amount of sleep. Don’t be afraid to have a nap during the day, it may pick you up during the day.
Here is some food for thought… If you took off one hour of sleep a night (went from 8 to 7 hours) and you were 20 years old. If you lived until you were 80 you would gain… are you ready for this… an extra 2.5 years of life… more time to do something, spend time with family, read a whole bunch of books, run a few marathons, write a few books, learn a new language!
Take the time to find your perfect time!
Today’s picture is from our camp… sunset in the winter at YLCC. Getting ready for a long winters nap (or maybe a good solid 5 hours!)
