Well, let me tell ya, sleepin’ good, that’s a real blessin’. Some folks, they just plop down and they’re out like a light. Me? Not so much. It’s like my brain’s a chicken yard at feeding time, all clucking and fussin’.
So, I’ve been hearin’ things, you know, from the TV and such. They say you gotta have a routine. Like, go to bed and wake up ’bout the same time every day. Sounds fancy, but I guess it makes sense. Kinda like feedin’ the chickens at the same time, they get used to it.
And this breathin’ thing? They say it helps. Slow, deep breaths, like you’re smellin’ a rose, then blowin’ out a candle. I tried it. Felt a bit silly at first, huffin’ and puffin’ like an old steam engine. But, you know what? It kinda works sometimes. Calms the clucking chickens in my head, a little bit anyways.
- No coffee late in the day! They say ten hours before bed. Ten hours! That’s near ’bout half a day. Guess that means no more afternoon coffee with the girls. That’s gonna be tough.
- No big meals or booze before bed. Well, that makes sense. Nothin’ worse than tryin’ to sleep with a belly full of potatoes and gravy. Or a head full of that firewater. Been there, done that, wouldn’t recommend it.
- No workin’ late. Two hours before bed, they say. Easy for them city folk to say. On the farm, work’s never really done. But I guess I can try to put my feet up a bit earlier.
- And those screens! They say turn ’em off two hours before bed. The TV, the phone, all that glowin’ stuff. Hard to do when the grandkids are sendin’ pictures and such. But maybe I can just peek at them in the mornin’.
Another thing they talk about is this “non-sleep deep rest”. Sounds complicated, don’t it? But it just means you need to try to relax even if you don’t really fall asleep, laying in bed breathing and keeping away from distractions. I reckon that means just lying there like a bump on a log, but it sounds fancier the way they say it.
It’s all about gettin’ your body ready for sleep, they say. Like gettin’ the soil ready for plantin’. You gotta prepare things, make it comfortable and quiet. No bright lights, no loud noises. Just peace and quiet.
I used to think sleep was just somethin’ that happened. You know, you get tired, you go to bed, you sleep. But now I see it’s more than that. It’s like a whole process, a whole ritual, almost. And if you don’t do it right, well, you end up tossin’ and turnin’ all night, feelin’ like a wrung-out dishrag in the mornin’.
So, I’m tryin’ these things, little by little. The routine, the breathin’, the no coffee, no screens. It ain’t easy, mind you. Old habits die hard, like stubborn weeds in the garden. But I figure it’s worth a try. A good night’s sleep, that’s worth more than gold, I tell ya. Makes you feel like a new person, ready to face the day, even if that day is just feedin’ the chickens and hoein’ the garden.
And honestly, when you get older, you just appreciate a good night’s sleep that much more. It isn’t as easy as it was when I was young. Then I could fall asleep anywhere! But now I need things to be just right. Quiet, dark, comfy. And no clucking chickens in my head!
So if you’re having trouble sleeping, don’t just ignore it. It ain’t somethin’ you can just brush off. You need your sleep, just like plants need water and sunshine. Try some of these things. See what works for you. Maybe the breathin’, maybe the routine, maybe somethin’ else entirely. But don’t give up. A good night’s sleep is important. And like I said, it’s a real blessin’ when you can get it.
And if nothin’ else works, there’s always warm milk with a little bit of honey. That’s what my grandma used to do and it always seemed to help a little bit. Maybe it’s the milk, or maybe it’s just the comfort of somethin’ warm and sweet before bed. Either way it can’t hurt to try.
Tags: [Sleep, Sleep Routine, Sleep Hygiene, Breathing, Relaxation, Bedtime, Insomnia, Rest, Deep Rest, Healthy Sleep]