Sleep Until the Morning Sun

With apologies to Dylan Thomas, do go gently into that good night, and sleep, sleep until the morning sun.

Of course, if it was that easy, one in three adults would not suffer from a lack of sleep. They would not be putting themselves at a higher risk for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, obesity, and depression. They would not have a higher rate of automobile crashes and machinery-related injuries. They would simply turn in and get a full night’s sleep.

If you are that one in three, and even if you’re not, the first step is to resolve to first understand and then put in place the measures needed for a quality night’s sleep. After all, we spend 1/3 of our lives catching Z’s, sawing logs, hitting the hay, getting shuteye, drifting off, sleeping like a baby, hitting the sack, getting our beauty sleep, taking forty winks, and playing Rip Van Winkle. We should do everything we can to make the most of it.

There are many reasons you may not get a good night’s sleep. Your bedtime may vary from day to day. You may spend too much time looking at screens right before bedtime. Large meals, caffeine, or alcohol, before bedtime have a significant effect on your sleep. And not having a comfortable bed reduces the quality of your sleep.

It’s time to make those resolutions. We know we need eight hours, so let’s set a bedtime and stick to it. For me I’m an early riser, so I resolve to go to bed each night at 10 pm.

The meals, caffeine, and alcohol are not an issue for me. I only drink coffee in the morning, and my evening meal is usually around 6:30 pm. I have an occasional beer, but not enough to warrant a resolution. We are all different, so you will have to decide for yourself on this one.

Getting regular exercise has so many benefits, including improving our sleep. Join me in resolving to get some form of exercise each day. It may be all out going to the gym, or maybe just resolving to take a relaxing walk each evening. Or something as simple as taking the stairs instead of an elevator.

I saved the best for last. Let’s resolve to have a relaxing, comfortable place to sleep. It all starts with a high-quality mattress. Remember, mattresses last for a long time, and you are going to spend 1/3 of your life on it. The investment in quality is worth it. Likewise, on the pillows, mattress pad, and, of course, the sheets. There is nothing I like more than climbing into bed between two freshly laundered, comfortable sheets.

One more resolution. We are eating right, getting exercise, and have a beautiful bed. I resolve to make my bed each morning. It’s all about pride of ownership. Pride in the high-quality mattress and bedding and pride in my lifestyle changes that will give me eight blissful hours of sleep.

We have done the hard work. We have created a plan and dedicated ourselves to doing the very best we can to implement it. There will be days we fall short, but most days we will succeed, and we will be rewarded for our efforts. We will be healthier, more alert, and simply feel better.

To seal the deal, I think we have earned a little free form poetry.

Do go gently into that good night.

Slide between the sheets.

Lay your head down.

Put away all the day’s care.

Let your mind drift away.

Sleep, sleep, until the morning sun.

To give equal time, it’s only fair I Include a link to Dylan Thomas’s poem read by Richard Burton, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”.

Ok fine, you like Dylan Thomas’s poem better. Just remember Richard Burton read it. Mine would sound better if Burton read it. Not as good, but better.

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