Recommendations about shutting screens and phones off an hour before going to bed and leaving the devices out of the bedroom have become louder in recent years. We live in stressful times, Covid or not, and are on overload in general because our days and calendars are filled to the brim. The need to produce can be overwhelming and sleep is repair time. Tossing and turning before finally going to sleep, missing the deep sleep phases, or waking up a few times during the night, all interrupt and hinder the body’s self-healing ability.
I don’t know about you, but the pandemic has not been a particularly productive period for me, more like living under a pillow and incubating. I’ve had a hard time fitting meditation, walks or exercise into the beginnings or ends of my weekday work schedule. Instead, I have perfected the art of easing in and out of the day to avoid going from high to low, frenzy to sleep in an hour.
On a normal weeknight cooking is my end-of-day bridge, sometimes sipping a glass of wine while I chop, assemble, set the table, and prepare something simple but from scratch. After dinner, I take it another notch down, having tea and a piece of chocolate with my husband. I would feel rushed and interrupted in my slowdown if I had to leave for yoga or the gym now. And even once I snuggle into bed, I don’t shut the light right away but read a bit until my mind is ready to say goodnight.
The reverse process in the morning takes me from making and having breakfast in my pajamas, to the next transition zone, sipping my tea, maybe even having a second cup, and scanning the news to reconnect with the outer world. Then I get dressed and ready for work, and it’s action until evening.
Of course, you have to find your own best way to dial down the day’s energy in order to have a good restorative night’s sleep. If you sleep deeply and wake up refreshed, you have found it.