Did you enjoy a lavish slumber last night, with the perfect combination of temperature and temperament? Or was it one of those restless nights where dreams and worries blur together, leaving you tangled in your covers, eyes fixated on the clock? Sleep is a mysterious phenomenon that we try relentlessly to understand. We use metaphors to describe it, keep diaries to track it, and even resort to pharmaceuticals to manipulate it. I’ve spent a decade in search of the perfect pillow.
As we get older, our sleep needs change. The obstacles that stand in the way of our undisturbed seven to nine hours of sleep multiply. In my twenties, I believed that in order to live a fulfilling and exciting life, I had to be comfortable with going to work exhausted. It seemed like a feasible model at the time. Sleep didn’t occupy much of my thoughts. Instead, I focused on maximizing my waking hours with only brief breaks to recharge. I would stay out late, barely sleep, and then jolt awake a few hours later when my alarm went off.
“By definition, if you rely on an alarm clock to wake up, then you are chronically sleep-deprived,” says Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, a sleep specialist at Penn Medicine. If you’re getting enough sleep, you’ll naturally wake up when you’re well-rested.
Now, in my middle age, I refuse to use an alarm clock unless I have an early flight. My bedtime is sacred, and breaking it requires a detailed presentation outlining the risks and rewards. I find myself constantly calculating and discussing sleep as if it were a valuable currency. There’s always a sense of scarcity, as if I’m greedy for more sleep. “The sleep debt collectors are coming,” writes Oliver Whang. “They want you to know that there is no forgiveness, only an ever-changing expectation of when and how you’ll pay them back.”
Lately, I’ve been asking people about their sleep habits. Their answers are complex. Despite knowing the importance of good sleep hygiene for our health and productivity, there’s still a hint of pride when people admit to not sleeping well. It’s as if they see themselves as brave guardians, sacrificing their sleep to protect society from lurking dangers. On the other hand, those who sleep well seem a bit bashful, as if their effortless rest indicates a simple mind and an uneventful life. One person summed it up by saying, “I just love sleep more now than ever before. Does that make sense?”
I know exactly what they mean. The older I get, the more grateful I am for any amount of sleep I can get. I yearn for the nighttime cleanup, where the brain takes out the trash while the body rests. A quick nap acts as a reboot for my system, clearing unnecessary data. I crave what Walt Whitman describes as “free flight into the wordless, away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done.”
For more information, check out the latest happenings in culture, including President Biden’s controversial decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine, the current state of the job market in the US, the resignation of the Dutch prime minister, and the sentencing of the El Paso Walmart shooter. There is also a culture calendar highlighting the release of “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” and new episodes of “Bluey.” Additionally, don’t miss the recipe of the week for a Tomato and Peach Salad, recommendations from Wirecutter, and updates on the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament.
Now, it’s time to play and enjoy!
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
