Sleep - A Way Of Dodging Life? - About Little Things

Sleep is a way of dodging life – that was a phrase I heard today and it got me thinking about the routines and patterns of every day.

I went searching and, sure enough, I found the Centers for Disease Control has determined how much sleep we should have. There’s a chart on the CDC website. It breaks down the number of hours of sleep you need depending on your age. It says an adult should get 7 + hours per day.

Excerpt from website: https://www.cdc.gov

“Although the amount of sleep you get each day is important, other aspects of your sleep also contribute to your health and well-being. Good sleep quality is also essential. Signs of poor sleep quality include not feeling rested even after getting enough sleep, repeatedly waking up during the night, and experiencing symptoms of sleep disorders (such as snoring or gasping for air). Improving sleep quality may be helped by better sleep habits or being diagnosed and treated for any sleep disorder you may have.”

Think about a day in your life – one which you totally enjoyed from start to finish. At day’s end you felt like the time had gone in a flash. You were energized. Sleep was the last thing on your mind. You were having too much fun.

Now think of a day when you felt miserable and unhappy. Every minute dragged and it felt like you experienced a week, not just 24 hours. Everything weighed you down and you wanted an escape – so you slept some time away. I wonder, is that what they were thinking when they said, “Sleep is a way of dodging life”?

You'll be sleeping long enough

There’s so much to do, so many interesting things to discover, so many books to read, so many things to make, so many stories to write. And, that got me thinking of another angle …

Adults should get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. I never liked that theory. Just think about the whole idea. For goodness sake, that’s like giving away one-third of your life. Really!

Over 24 hours, we set aside time to prepare food and to eat. There’s time for hygiene, time for daily chores, for work, for leisure and then for sleep. How much for each is up to us as individuals.

“Enjoy every minute that you can! Experience everything each day has to offer for you’ll be sleeping long enough”

~ Beulah Bouzane