Everybody knows by now that I feel younger than I am. I partially attribute this to my attitude, because I like seeing how many times I can laugh out loud in a day, but I mostly credit my lifestyle. I eat real food, I walk every day, I avoid stress like it's the plague, I don't drink or smoke or use chemicals and I have always placed a high priority on getting a good night's sleep.
Sleep is one of my favourite things in the world. It's also been an art form I have had to cultivate and, at times, fight for my right to enjoy.
I have been known to sleep a full room away from a snoring husband, with ear plugs in my ears, topped by a feather pillow and a loud fan or two for white noise. It may seem silly to those who are blessed with the ability to sleep through anything, no matter what. Things are improving, though. While Kelt is dealing with his apnea issues, I continue to nourish my nerves with amino acids like tryptophan, good fat and minerals - all of which can be found in hemp seeds and hemp protein powder.
As a child, I often suffered from insomnia. Like many people who do, I'd stress about it and would count down how many hours or minutes of sleep I would get if I fell asleep 'right now'. Thank goodness my parents became health nuts and they fed me plenty of green vegetables, because I got through it without having any dangerous accidents or failing any grades. Don't kid yourself, a good night's sleep is THAT important. People aren't always as stupid as you think they are. They may just be sleep deprived.
People who don't get eight hours of sleep at night consume, on average, two hundred extra calories during the day. So, for those who want to get healthier, putting a priority on sleep is the way to go.
In fact, last weekend my family had planned to spend two nights in Bengough, as we were attending the Gateway Festival. We came home on Saturday evening, however, because my husband, who is already chronically sleep deprived (because apnea is, indeed, more serious than most people think), did not sleep on the Friday night. I'm sure this was partly because he was sleeping directly on the ground in our tent and his sleeping bag is less comfortable than mine is. But it is probably more so because nobody else in Bengough was going to get any sleep until at least 2:00 a.m. when the concert ended. But do partiers stop when the music stops? Nope. They continue making their noise until the sun rises.
Now, I'm no scientist, but it seems to me that once the sun comes up, it gets hotter in a tent (in Saskatchewan, that is. We are actually more used to camping in the Rocky Mountains, where you need a -15 sleeping bag in summer). If anyone has a hope of sleeping while camping here, it makes sense to go to sleep as soon as it cools down and to wake up with the birds.
We have all heard it said that you can't catch up on sleep. Well, I agree that you can't catch up on sleep in one night. It takes at least three or four nights of good sleep to make up for one missed night.
I could never have been a surgeon. I did, however, nurse my son every hour of the day and night for at least the first year. Interestingly, nursing mothers have the hormones to deal with sleep interruptions and, if the child is sleeping in the same room, the baby's and mom's breathing patterns sync up and they actually share their sleep cycle. So, if baby is rousing, mom is too, naturally.
My son is still a grazer and he sleeps like a log all night. I doubt he will ever have sleep issues. Hemp protein shakes were his first food and he continues to love them. This wonderful food has indeed changed my life, especially my sleep.
What we also really need, I believe, is a good bedtime routine. The only times I have trouble falling asleep nowadays, is when I have stayed out too late or up too late, doing or watching something exciting. I know, you're asking, what is life without those nights, anyway? My answer: life is brighter and clearer - and healthier - when we get a good night's sleep.
