It’s pretty incredible to think about how many casual conversations are based around sleep problems. People are always sharing their sleep tips and tricks, or maybe just their tribulations, around accomplishing a peaceful sleep. A good night’s sleep is probably one the most important ways of maintaining good mental health, and yet around 50 million people struggle with it.
Some school leaders may even be experiencing a replay of negative events in their mind throughout their sleep, causing a feeling of exhaustion when they wake up. I know I often wake up feeling tense and have a headache, when all I really want is to feel refreshed.
Everyone has their bedtime ritual, and mine used to be based on some type of sleep aid. Sleep deprivation prevents us from performing at our best. When we don’t sleep well, these symptoms may get in the way of leading well:
Difficulty in decision making
Trouble remembering things and staying focused
Feelings of anxiety, depression and irritability
You have a team of staff, students and families who are depending on you to be at your very best, so sleep hygiene is critical.
After years of taking Advil PM or Unisom, I finally started taking a calming blend of magnesium that helps naturally relax me before bed. Is my sleep perfect now? No. I wouldn’t go that far. But it does feel more restorative than forced. It feels better than the sleep aids I had been using for years prior.
I’ve always been so envious of those who blog about sleeping when their body tells them it's tired, and waking up when the sun says, “good morning” in a calm and warm way, peeking through their windows. I absolutely cannot relate. Working 11 hour days generally doesn’t lend itself
to this type of regime. However, I did find something that helps to recreate this healthy sleep-wake routine that fits into my lifestyle. This alarm clock gives me the opportunity to fall asleep to a sunset, listen to soft rain while sleeping, and wake up to the sunrise and chirping birds. I can’t imagine ever returning to a traditional alarm clock.
I’ve also recently started acupuncture. This is a new and young endeavor for me, so the jury is still out, but I will say that I’ve noticed a difference in my state of sleep. The pattern of sleep is the same, but the state of sleep is much more peaceful than what I’ve experienced in a while.
Of course there are days when there is more stress and anxiety than my mind can handle in a healthy way. On these days I have difficulty decompressing prior to bed, and that is when I rely on nighttime meditation. Here are a few I’ve tried:
During sleep we process information and undergo a number of maintenance processes that help us to function productively during the school day. Quite honestly, if you focus on anything to assist in your stress management, sleep hygiene is the place to start. Each stage of the sleep cycle plays a role in brain health, enabling better thinking. To be a better leader, you must always be looking for ways to be at your best, and sleep is where it’s at.
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