Sleep…It’s So (NOT) Overrated

Sleep is pretty amazing…when we get enough. While we sleep, the body gets busy doing many things it can’t do while we are awake.  

There are processes that clean our brain while consolidating and organizing our memories. Then there are processes that repair muscles and tissues and strengthen our immune system. Cells are replenished. Lack of sleep prevents the body from doing all these repairs and can lead to major health issues. 

For the past seven months or so, I haven’t slept well, although it’s greatly improving now. Much of that was due to horrible pain from my low back down my legs which was mostly caused by inflammation that worsened at night. I could not lie in one position for more than a couple of minutes. I rolled over more times than a Chicago hotdog on a rotisserie at Fat Johnnie’s. Fortunately, our king-size bed is actually two twin XL’s, so my frequent movement did not disrupt D’s sleep. 

I also realized that my mattress was complicating things. It was way too soft and quite broken down. I had to actually sit up to roll over. It was like sleeping in quicksand. It kept sucking me deep into the mattress. About two weeks ago, I bought a new mattress. It has all the comfort of sleeping on a hardwood floor covered with tiny cotton balls. But, to me, it’s heaven. A couple of days ago, I slept all through the night. First time in months. 

I have quite a routine now for achieving better sleep. Once I get into bed, I place a fitted cube between my knees. It actually straps to one leg. It’s so much better than using a pillow for support. I wear my mouth guard to help relieve the tension in my jaws, and finally, I put on my blinders. The best eye mask ever. I think the only thing I’m missing is a helmet. But I don’t think that’s  necessary. Yet…

Removing most foods from my diet is relieving the inflammation, along with the new mattress, and proper movement throughout the day. I love my vibration plate. It’s been a life-changer for me. The improvement I’m experiencing, just since the holidays, is truly amazing. I know I am on the right road of recovery and healing. 

I hope you get enough sleep. If not, I suggest narrowing down the cause(s) for restless nights. It might take some time to figure out but there are a lot of helpful hints online. Do the research. It could be as simple as putting your phone down a couple of hours before bed. Or, to stop watching the news late at night. We end our nights with laughter while watching a series we find to be quite funny.

God purposefully designed sleep for us. What a gift and a blessing. 

♥️

Andi