Lets talk about sleep

We know how important it is for our bodies and brains and while so basic a need, many struggle. Setting up a good night routine helps signal it's time to prepare for sleep and encourage a good night of it. No one appreciates being disrupted, and perhaps our bodies don't either. If we're busy, busy, busy right up until we attempt sleep, maybe the body is a little irked that it didn't get fair notice.

Mindful habits are so good for us. Do I have a few of my own tips I can share? Sure!

I begin to dial down the day, about an hour or so before I plan to get into bed. For me, dial down is usually around 9p. Usually.

Lights are all on dimmers throughout my house. I can't recommend this enough. Dial down. Take cues from nature as Fall brings darker hours earlier. This is one way we can better connect to nature, which is also good for us and our sleep rhythm.

Day clothes get ditched for cozy ones.

I enjoy a hot cup of herbal (non caffeine) tea and try to keep snacking to a minimum after 8:00p. However, if I'm hungry and my body is signaling that, I'll eat. Tune in.

I usually take a few minutes to appreciate all that I did that day, count my blessings in it and put pen to paper to set a plan for the next day. Then I set that aside for morning.

I'll watch a few minutes of mindless TV with my TV-appreciate husband and our sofa-adoring dog.

Wash face, brush teeth in a low lit bathroom.

Sometimes, the day needs to be washed and rinsed away too. A shower or bath is wonderful therapy for that. So is a little bit of yoga.

I always have windows open enough enough for fresh air and cool breezes. We are so lucky to live in a land that supplies both.

I almost always have a book (or two) I keep only for nighttime reading. This is my treat to myself at the end of each day. I prefer real paper bound books and no backlight. My eyes also appreciate that especially at day's end. I'll read until I can't keep them open.

Sharing our bed with our beloved Viszla is not the best for a good night's sleep to be sure, so for those of you who are considering bringing a puppy into your home and heart, you might consider bringing in a crate too. I'm just sayin. (That's really another email. :)

It's not ever about perfection and condemnation's intertwined hand, it's about intentional practice and abundant grace in all of it, That's my best tip of all.

Thanks for reading.

Jill🥱