Sleep

Sleep is most likely one of the most underappreciated things we do as living creatures. Without this one thing we grow more ill, less strong, less quick witted, and less overall. I’ve been working shifts for the last 11 years and the toll I fell has been lessened as a direct result of the importance I put on sleep. While I was in the military I would make fun of a follow troop because of his insistence on getting no more, or less then eight hours of sleep. It didn’t take long for me to notice that he had enough energy to be annoying all night, and when shifts changed, all day too. So I decided to do a little experiment.

Self experimentation has to be number two on the list of under appreciated things in life. If you do not test yourself then you do not know your own personal limits. I started forcing myself to relinquish trusted six hour night for an upgraded eight. Honestly it took me years to finally get into the swing of things, but now I’ll never go back to anything less. Aside from being more even tempered I’m also less prone to becoming sick, and when I do become ill I recover sooner than I did in the past.

Granted there is less time for late night movies, or gaming, but that’s a price I’m happy to pay so that I’m no longer blowing up for zero reasons. I also find that this has increased my drive to do more with the day, the energy and the alertness that come with good sleep, exercise and clean eating also keep me slim enough to not feel bad about eating rich foods from time to time. I used to fall asleep while I waited for lights to turn from green to red, but not anymore, now I find that the horns are beeping because I’m daydreaming while looking at the clouds.

The one thing that I’m finding is messing things up now is working nights, then sleeping nights on my days off. Humans are not creatures of the night regardless what you may think. There are people who are more prone to staying up late, but leaving the sun light completely is unnatural, we are truly like superman, but it’s our moods and not out strength the sun replenishes. I find that I’m generally happier and sleep better at night when I’m out in the sun. So if you’re feeling depressed, or bored, take a long walk, get in the sun, meet some new strangers, and breath the pollution if you’re in the city or the semi sweet trees everywhere else; either way, just get out and enjoy the day, you’ll sleep better, and become a better person for it.

Peace

Pres