A Tale of Insomnia

The inability to get a sound night's sleep is often underestimated in our daily lives. “Oh! You were not able to sleep properly? That does not mean you can nap in class! What an ill-mannered child. I will have to call your parents and tell them about your lack of concentration,” my teacher used to taunt me when I was in high school, a decade back. Initially, I also thought that this was laziness and that distractions were keeping me awake, but no, that wasn’t entirely the case. I just could not come to terms with sleep. The only amount of sleep I used to catch during my school days was in the wee hours of dawn, which was about an hour or so.

Insomnia is often not considered trouble until it becomes a major issue especially as you grow up and become an adult. In the corporate world, I have seen a lot of my colleagues suffering from insomnia but they take it so lightly as if it is JUST 12 nights that they haven’t been able to fall asleep. And it’s usually because of, yes, you guessed right, ‘busy schedules’, ‘deadlines’ and whatnot.

Chugging down cups of coffee to make your brain stay alert during meetings is the new norm in the corporate world. Maybe this is another reason for the boom in the coffee industry because almost 73% of office employees depend on at least one shot of caffeine to get through the day.

Now the question arises, why are we so ignorant of the fact that good sleep is a major requirement of keeping your body engine running? Just imagine a factory running every minute and every hour without shutting down. This is what overburdening your body and mind is like. Our body functions like an engine that needs time to recoup and rejuvenate before the next shift. Sleeping for 6-8 hours is essential for adults and 8-10 hours of sleep for children.

If sipping on chamomile tea or quitting caffeine and alcohol is not working for you, try to bring yoga, meditation and mindful practices into your routine. A light exercise or simple stretch will bring you more calm and will leave you feeling energised and rejuvenated throughout the day. Also, consider trying a winding-down nighttime routine that fits your daily habits. For some it would mean taking a hot shower and reading a book before going to sleep and for others, it would mean simple breathing exercises or creating a dark environment in your room by switching off all your gadgets. Journaling and listening to slow and soft music is another great way to wind down before dozing off.

For children, try to maintain a consistent bedtime and wake-up time routine for them. This would include removing any electronic devices from their bedroom and creating a quiet and dark environment. Bedtime stories, rhymes and lullabies are also a great way to help children with sleep. They can also keep a gratitude diary and write the things they felt grateful for that day before going to sleep.

As the phrase goes, "As you sow, so shall you reap," this highlights the profound connection between your dietary choices and your overall mental and physical well-being. What you consume throughout the day significantly influences your energy levels and your ability to rest and rejuvenate.

When dealing with insomnia, being mindful of your dietary habits is essential. Incorporating superfoods like almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, kiwi, fatty fish, curd, cherries, kale, chickpeas, and pistachios into your meals can work wonders in calming the mind and regulating your sleep cycle. These foods are rich in nutrients like magnesium, tryptophan, and omega-3 fatty acids, which promote relaxation and melatonin production that will help you drift into restful sleep. Sleep, after all, is a cornerstone of health, and the right food choices can make all the difference. Bonne nuit!