BENGALURU: Most of us sleep far more than we need to. We say to ourselves that we must have at least eight good hours of time under the covers in order to function at our best. We cannot imagine getting by on less sleep and shudder at the very thought. Yet, as I wrote in an earlier lesson, it is not the quantity of sleep that is most important. What really counts is the quality and richness of your sleep.
Just remember those times when everything in your life was working. You were thriving at the office, fulfilled in your relationships and growing in your inner life. If you are like most people, you will also recall that during these times you could get by on less sleep. There was so much to be excited about that you did not want to waste time by oversleeping. Now reflect on those times of your life when things were not going so well. Your job was exhausting, the people in your life were driving you crazy and you had no time for yourself. During these times, you probably slept longer than usual. Perhaps you slept until two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday or Sunday (we often use sleep as an escape from reality during difficult times). But how did you feel when you finally woke up? Groggy, uninspired and tired.
So it is not the number of hours of sleep that is key but rather the amount of renewal your body receives. Strive for less time in bed but a richer, deeper sleep. Understand that fatigue is often a mental creation that stems from doing things you do not like to do. And remember Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s wise words:
The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upwards in the night.