Why? Because I got a good night''s sleep, straight through, without waking. I feel like a million bucks and ready to take on anything. The best, most important thing for an insomniac like me to do after a good night's sleep is to take note of everything that was done differently in the lead-up to increase the chances of repeating it in the year ahead.
Last night, I was careful to get utterly no sugar in the 5 or 6 hours before bed. Half the world was celebrating the outgoing old year and incoming first moments of the new year, and I celebrated with some low-carbohydrate broccoli and cheese patties. Think what you'd like, but I'd eat them four nights a week to insure sleep like that. Fortunately, I'm pretty sure I won't need to do that, but avoiding sugar always seems to help.
I cut back Melatonin use. I've been trying to eliminate regular use and dependence on any sleep aid from my regimen, after reading reports that "too much of a good thing" can easily become bad. In keeping with that goal, I cut back Melatonin by one-third starting a month ago and it's had a negative effect on my sleep. It seems I'm getting somewhere on that effort.
I slept in my own bed, with my favorite sheets, in a cold room under light but warm covers. Over the years, I've given my bedding a lot of thought and effort. I don't like heavy covers. An eider-down in East Europe would make me scream. Or sweat. I also don't like polyester; it pills. I like a nice, light down comforter, dressed in cotton and linen duvet with plenty of feather pillows on the side. I currently sleep with five pillows.
I eliminated tech and gadgets. I did watch TV in my bedroom, but I shut down the computer a full 90 minutes early. I put the phone on the side and tried to limit exposure to any bluish, insomnia-inducing tech-light. I mostly succeeded.
2014 ushered its own noisy self in. Since I worked early this morning, I didn't go out. But I didn't go to bed "early," either. A double feature of my favorite British sit-com was on and I treated myself to both episodes. I got to sleep a full hour later than I should have.
But with in spite of less pillow-time, I had more quality shut-eye than I have had in weeks. I woke up ready to take on the world. I made New Years' Resolutions, career and workout goals and greeted everyone I met with a smile. It's amazing what a good night's sleep can do for attitude.
And if this was any indication of what 2014 will bring, we're in for a wild, amazing, exciting, GREAT ride!
One more thing, if you didn't sleep as well as I did and you don't sleep well on a regular basis, you can change that. It may be any of a hundred different things. Check out The Great Sleep Checklist to see if it will help you. It's never too late to start sleeping well.
