Sleep Sharpens Your Mind. And Your Mood

A bad night’s sleep makes the following day quite a drag. We’ve all been there. We feel irritable and unfocused. It’s likely a day when we’ll overreact and say, or do, something completely out of character. We’re only human. But that’s not what we really want to talk about here. Dial•a•Bed’s #SleepForLife approach is more interested in how to get the best possible sleep, every night, for razor sharp alertness, every day.

Why would you sleep for success?

It sounds like a pipedream. Who, in their right mind, spends more time sleeping if they really want to get ahead? “That’s where we often get the wrong equation of what it means to be productive,” says sleep scientist Dr. Dale Rae. “It’s not necessarily the amount of time we spend perfecting what we do, or getting through more work. It’s about the quality of focus, and uninterrupted concentration, that we apply to our waking day. The better our quality of sleep, the more effective we are during the day.”

What’s the secret to the best sleep?

“Factor in sleep as a key priority,” advises Dr. Rae. “Think of it as one of your most important, daily routines.” By this Dr. Rae equates optimal sleep with, say, maintaining a level of fitness, or honing a technical skill. Sleep is not just something that happens to us when we feel tired. Quality sleep is an active choice and discipline. Just as you would prepare yourself for your working day, prepare yourself for sleep. Try not to exercise or eat too late. Find a calming half hour before bedtime to slow down the crazy day in your head.

How do I know if I’m getting the right sleep?

There is something Dr. Rae calls a “sleep sweet spot”. It’s a process of getting to understand your natural sleep rhythm, or chronotype. Pay attention to when your body naturally prefers to sleep and wake up. Simplify your bedroom environment to be a soothing and restful space. Consider if you are getting the right amount of comfort and support in your mattress. Afford yourself the best chance of relaxing into a deep, recuperating night of sleep. When you wake up feeling completely rested and full of energy, that’s when you know you’ve hit the spot! This is the routine you want to keep repeating for your best possible sleep, every night.

Your relationship with sleep and relationships in your life.

Temperamental? Grouchy? If you’re having yet another bad day, it can quite easily be sleep deprivation symptoms. A silly accident at home can blow up into a family feud. What your colleague intended as a joke can be taken the wrong way. When mishaps or miscommunications happen they seem so much worse when you are suffering from sleep deprivation. Getting the right amount of quality sleep every night helps to keep you emotionally balanced, especially when you might be going through a challenging time. That’s when you need the benefits of sleep most.

A big day needs even bigger sleep.

Pulling an all-nighter before a major presentation, an exam, or putting in increasingly extra hours to keep that one step ahead, is most likely counterproductive. Clarity and concentration will come less from a sense of urgency and more from a calmer, more centered sense of self. Planning ahead, and absolutely factoring your sleep into that plan, is what contributes to sharper thinking and a well-calibrated mood.

Success starts at Dial•a•Bed.

Take control. #SleepForLife. Afford yourself the very best comfort and support from South Africa’s largest branded bedding store. Pop in to your nearest Dial•a•Bed and take the Sleep Station test. We’ll guide you to exactly the kind of sleep you’ve always wanted and deserve. If you are doing everything you can to get the right kind of sleep, but just not finding your “sleep sweet spot”, why not check in with Dr. Rae’s team at www.sleepscience.co.za. When you sleep better, you definitely live better.