What’s on my mind? Soul Searching, Sleep and Stepping Forward
Keri Gilder
Putting the power of the digital universe in the hands of our customers wherever, whenever and however they want.
I have an addiction. Sleep. ?
For many years I’ve been trying to master this essential element of health. I’ve read three sleep books, listened to multiple podcasts and practised a pretty regimented sleep routine. At 8:00 pm, I turn off all electronics, including the TV to reduce blue light. I prepare my supplements, water, coffee, and clothes for the next day. I read 10 pages of my book, practice 15 min of meditation and write in my six-minute journal.?
Then I get into my bed that is primed to the exact cooling/ warmth for my body temperature, turn on the sound machine, put on my sleep mask and hopefully doze off. As I've been monitoring my sleep statistics for the past year or so, I have to say, for the most part, I’m a good sleeper with an average sleep score of 98/100. I usually doze off in just a few minutes, get good REM and deep sleep, and the required hours to recover.
But…some days, I don’t. Usual culprits are jet lag and just not being able to turn my brain off. Last night my sleep score was 48/100 - not good! A combo of jet lag from travelling in the USA and a big week ahead had my mind spinning.
I find on these days when I'm both excited and tired, I need to be kind to myself. I need to be aware of ‘majoring on the minors’ and make sure my focus is on the things I can control, the things that really matter. When life gets stressful, I think we often major on the minors and we tend to anticipate trouble and enjoy the many sorrows that never happen to us.
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Now more than ever, is a time to soul search, to sleep and to find serenity in oneself. Change is inevitable. Whether you’re going through an acquisition, or becoming a new manager, boss, colleague, friend, partner or parent - tomorrow will be different from today. Did you know that on average we change jobs 12 times in our lifetime?
Oprah Winfrey once said, “the greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change their future by just changing their attitude”.
I got a sleep score of 48 last night. I was excited to come to work today, to embrace the changes that are happening in our business and across our industry. My brain would not stop giving me ideas for the future and because I didn’t sleep well, I’ll make sure I focus on the majors today and be kind to myself when I get a bit tired this afternoon :)?
Tonight, I have a feeling my sleep score will be back on track, as I enjoy and embrace the future.
Yay for lights out 8pm! Sleep is magical and some of my best problem solving happens in the subconscious levels during sleep. When thoughts are zooming around I like to pretend it’s a movie and just enjoy the show. Now that sleep is pretty consistent, if I’m awake at 3am I consider it some sort of special mission. Enjoy the quiet moments and keep the lights off!
Progressing Passion Projects
1 年I can very much relate, I started paying real attention to my sleep routine a couple of years ago after hearing about the Eight Sleep system when on a few neurobiology deep dives listening to the Huberman Lab podcast. My wife and I having greatly diverse preferences in nocturnal temp, and seeing that it has 2 zones, I jumped straight on the UK waitlist: Delivery>install>sleep>pretty poor scores = hyperfocus learning sprint and re-org of routine & room setup ??. I still rarely get over 6.5 hours, (keeping me in 80s/low 90s), but much improved REM and deep sleep which has been a game changer, as has swapping my alarm for RBG room lighting for a slow simulated sunrise during the winter months!
International Best-Selling Author, Sleep Expert, CEO of Third Spark and host of Third Spark podcast
1 年Great to see how you are prioritizing your sleep. ???? It gets harder to accomplish high quality sleep as we age, and you have established healthy habits and mindset that will help you stay on course.
?? Sustainability and Diversity Advocate ??????????Supporting Key Global Financial Services customers at Colt Technology Services - MBA CMgr FCMI
1 年Wow - ?? I never imagined scores that close to 100 would be possible - my peak is 89 so I'll take some more ideas from your post. Lack of sleep is my kryptonite so I know it has a huge impact on me.
Glad to know I’m not the only one geeking out on my sleep score and journaling how it correlates with how I feel and my productivity. It really is a great way to understand how all sorts of things impact our sleep and how sleep impacts everything! Thanks for sharing!