Get Your Lull On!

GET YOUR LULL ON

To sleep, perchance to dream

Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Sleep. Lack of sleep has never been a problem for me. In fact, I fear I sleep my life away. I can sleep at the drop of a hat...or the drop of my head as my forty years have illustrated. I've slept through supposed exam study, high stress situations and yes, I've slept at high noon. As such, I have repeatedly disregarded rest and sleep as a priority in my life because I have it in spades. While my New Year's resolutions for myself are usually fleeting and include the aesthetic, this challenge prompted me to reflect on the importance rest serves in achieving our ultimate endeavours. After all, regardless of what shape your New Year's resolutions may take, without regular, eventful rest and by extension, sleep, can any of our other life aspirations ever be fully appreciated?

In my youth, I recall watching a man-in-the-wild survival TV program, where the host eagerly revealed that we humans could survive for weeks without food. I thought he was mad. The absolute essentials in life of course, were revealed as water and sleep. Similarly, the legendary Betty White included eight hours of beauty sleep among her top ten tips for living a long and happy life, or 'nine hours if you're ugly'.

Nevertheless, we live in a society that's perpetually tired and what's more, accustomed to living in this state. Sleep is not celebrated in today's world but almost scorned at. Moreover, we are encouraged to be Iron Man, machine and human, taught to cram and achieve as much as physically possible into a twenty-four hour day. I, for one, am learning to let go of the guilt associated with this 'success' driven lifestyle, focusing instead on what my body needs to be nourished both mentally and physically. What do I want out of this life; what will make me happy? My New Year's resolutions epitomize this.

Gratitude. Our ultimate saviour. Yet we so often leave it withering on the branch that extends invitingly towards us. Gratitude grounds you and helps to put your immediate situation into perspective. If only Shakespeare's Hamlet had practised deep gratitude while roaming the halls of Elsinore Castle, pondering his moral existence. Indeed, gratitude may have spared the familial tragedy Hamlet's self-loathing and intense jealousy brought about.

In truth, not enough emphasis is placed on the practice of regular gratitude. I was previously traversing a difficult health condition when my GP told me to consider the people who are in a worse position than myself, not the folk who are 'better off'. Being thankful for what we have in life, centres us both mentally and spiritually. I also think gratitude leaves us open to accept new possibilities into our lives. It can be difficult, particularly in times of hardships and within the current social fabric to which covid has left us clinging. However, gratitude helps you trek through the muddy waters of life until you've found higher ground.

Have a Tribe. Isolation is a killer. I saw a fantastic TEDx Talks last year called, Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong. It absolutely resonated with me – so much so, I wish I'd seen it twenty years earlier. Presenter, Johann Hari, discussed an experiment with caged rats. Each rat was isolated in an empty cage with two drinking options; normal drinking water and a drugged water alternative were available. These lonely rats quickly overdosed on the drugged water option in almost 100% of the experiments conducted.

Alternatively, further rats were then placed into 'Rat Park'. Here, they were presented with stimuli, snacks, friends and the normal vs drugged water bottles. Interestingly, in 'Rat Park', the rats chose not to partake in the drugged water as they were happy and leading busy, social, fulfilled lives. Consequently, there was a 0% overdose rate when the rats were not isolated.

Similarly, I remember being in my early twenties and telling myself that I had to concentrate on my career. I took my social life for granted and certain friendships suffered as a result. What I didn't realise in the folly of my youth, was that a full life, juggling career, friends and family, love etc., makes every other facet of your life stronger. On reflection, I became quite lonely and eventually when work trouble reared its head, I became depressed.

Thus, there are real health benefits to having close relationships in your life. These include better mental health, improving your immune system and increased happiness and longevity. Being part of a tribe where you can connect, relax and be yourself, provides a deep sense of fulfilment, crucial to leading a content life.

Deep breathing. I just can't do meditation. Believe me, I've tried. Apps, YouTube instructional videos, beads, books. I even became a regular meditation-class-attendee where I tried to Ummm but not Ahhh amongst a throng of New Age spiritual divas who would have given Ghandi a run for his money. This all followed a healing treatment I'd succumbed to from a Medical Medium in New York. He told me to connect more with my own heart and that I was going faster than the rhythm of my life. Surprising, considering it takes me an hour to roll out of bed in the mornings. His advice? I should go a little slower and surf on the right waves. Hence, meditation was highly encouraged.

Nonetheless, I quit this new found spiritual freedom after a solid six months. I was unable to clear my mind, relax my body and compel my spirit forth, which only caused further distress. More recently however, I had a consultation with a functional doctor. She highlighted the effects that deep breathing has on calming and resetting the nervous system. She even admitted that she too flunked meditation class, which of course, lifted my spirits immensely. I was encouraged to 'breathe' my way out of an eczema flare-up but this can also extend to feelings of anxiety or unease. So my advice, ditch the meditation if it's not working for you. It really is okay. Simply take ten deep breaths, exhaling through the mouth and feel your body relax. Repeat several times per day to ease your over-stimulated adrenals and nervous system. I love it. I think deep breathing has all the mind/body benefits of meditation. While perhaps unorthodox, deep breathing definitely promotes a healthier, calmer lifestyle.

To thine own self be true. How confident are we to stand in our authentic self and reign supreme? The energy wasted on self-doubts and inner-criticism: we doubt our value, doubt our life choices. It's all so exhausting. In fact, it just makes me want to crawl into bed and throw the covers over my head. I think courage must rule the day but it doesn't come cheap.

I've recently had the courage to throw in my day job in order to pursue those things I never found the time to do; writing for one, an art project with a friend and attempting to get a business off the ground that I purchased almost two years ago. A girlfriend excitedly told me that I'm living my best life. I felt like a fraud. My feelings can jump from total delight and being self-assured, 'Yes. This is where I'm supposed to be,' to tears of insecurity; overwhelmed that I've left a regular paycheck and social norm of having a nine to five, in order to write a few stories that no-one will relate to. Pleasing others and acceptance; we spend our life chasing it. Instead, we must learn to say, 'No' without guilt and keep our heads up high when expressing our opinions and life choices. Make a New Year's resolution to start living. You're not here to please others.

Regular movement and good quality food. A promise on everyone's to-do-list with the arrival of the New Year: regular exercise and healthy eating habits. I personally find the exercise easier than the eating to uphold (let's not discuss those Christmas chocolate covered almonds). Although, my participation in exercise also goes in waves despite my enjoyment of it.

The best advice I've been given on this front is to question your WHY. You must have a strong why to get you out of the comfort of your Lull bed in the morning, especially when exercise beckons yet your motivation inevitably wanes. Elite athletes have this why beyond the aesthetics, this internal drive that propels them to succeed.

My friend had a huge why when she turned around her health for the better three years ago; her family. My why is simple; I want to lead a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, I've experienced illness in the past and am determined to do my best to stay healthy. Regularly reflecting on my why and making it a priority, will help me to achieve this.

Sleep and rest. As we welcome in the New Year, let's make great sleep a priority in 2022. Restful sleep is a must to achieving good mental and physical health, thereby optimising all areas of your life. One could even argue that good sleep is the Matterhorn of all the resolutions you make for yourself this year. As Lull, premier US mattress company states, 'Great sleep reduces stress, boosts your immune system and helps you stay happy. We want people to sleep better so they can live better.' Full stop.

Poor sleep on the other hand, increases your risk of heart attack and stroke, alters your blood sugar levels, worsens your mood and can cause weight gain. My sleep-deprived family and friends, trudge through life with chronic migraines, increased stress and quite frankly, may not live as long a life as they deserve.

My cousin, Anna, struggled wildly with sleep while going through menopause. She would kick the blankets off unapologetically during persistent hot flushes. This would spur arguments with her husband who is chronically short of sleep himself due to all-encompassing work commitments. Alas, if only Anna had purchased Lull's advanced cooling cube sleep system. She would have been able to sleep through the night at her ideal temperature, perhaps mitigating the ill-effects that menopause and lack of sleep can cause.

Likewise, my Kiwi neighbour, Donald, does an about face from his usual gregarious self after poor sleep. During the tropical wet season, the tree frogs come out to play, “louder than any sound system”. Donald is prisoner to their impromptu croaking orchestra and his tolerance and cognitive thinking rapidly decline. I can sympathise, having always preferred the quieter Freddo variety.

So what does eight to nine hours of restful sleep do to our bodies? Dr Eric Berg recently experimented on himself by increasing his six and a half hours of nightly sleep to nine hours over seven days. He experienced a huge decrease in inflammation, allowing more movement and flexibility. He also had a greater tolerance to stress, more focus and concentration, a decline in appetite and more endurance when exercising including greater recovery. Most importantly, Dr Berg's mood increased. He was 'more up'.

Identically, my Mother's respiratory doctor was especially enthused with the benefits of good sleep that he'd received from his sleep apnoea machine. Well-rested and delighted, the doctor advised his wife to bury the device with him when the time comes to meet his maker.

Ergo, let's get real about the importance sleep plays in promoting a happier, healthier you. In view of this, let's be kind to ourselves in 2022 by ensuring we have regular, good quality sleep...and don't feel guilty about it! I, for one, may even 'take back my sleep with a Lull mattress'.

Furthermore, by making a concerted effort to include daily gratitude, deep breathing, movement and healthy food choices into our lives, we will be grounded both mentally and spiritually. Additionally, by being true to your own identity and nourishing the relationships in our lives, we will be happier, more relaxed, all-rounded, social beings. Time to treat ourselves like the Kings and Queens we are. Get your Lull on!