Be Refreshed (1)

"There is no single better way to refresh your mind, body, and soul than by sleeping." ~ Jen Staples

Sleeping is one of my superpowers. I’ve been an amazing sleeper my whole life. My Mom always told me that I slept through the night “right away”👼 . As a kid I never asked my parents if I could stay up later…instead I asked, “can I go to bed now?”. In high school, I had a strict, self-imposed, in bed curfew of 9:30 p.m. which my body deemed the latest possible time for me to hit the hay if I was to be able to get up at 6:30 a.m. and function somewhat the next day. To this day, I enjoy, and feel I need, 9 to10+ hours a sleep per night. Yes, you read that correctly so pick your jaw up off the floor and keep on reading.

I’m able to sleep in or on: a bed, a tent, a sleeping bag, a chair, a car, a plane, a train, the floor, a sofa, and possibly even propped against a wall (although I haven’t tested that one yet.). I’ve slept through the ends of countless movies, thunderstorms, babies crying, dogs barking, and even my Dad’s lawn mowing... which my sister swears occurred like clockwork every Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. just below our bedroom windows.

I love sleeping because it not only provides time for my body to reset, it also allows my ever racing mind to relax and get a much needed reprieve. As someone who has suffered with anxiety her whole life, sleep represents an escape during which my brain can be at peace and re-energized. Sleep in many ways is like therapy for me. It’s also been shown to help prevent heart disease, cancer, stress, depression, inflammation, memory loss, weight gain, and dementia, too. But, despite all those benefits, there are some downsides to being a snoozer.

I’ve never seen a sunrise and getting up super early for travel is a no-no. I’ve also never seen a live episode of Saturday Night Live or any of the late night talk shows. That might not seem like a big deal, but... (1) I LOVE that kind of comedy; and (2) Back in the day when everyone talked about Steve Martin’s King Tut or Eddie Murphy’s Gumby SNL routines I had no idea what they were talking about! Thank goodness now all those comedic bits, as well as all episodes from all shows, are available to us any time of the day!

Then, of course, there was the challenge of early motherhood. I loved having babies and caring for them, but I was completely wrecked by having to get up several times a night to feed/change them. It sounded easy…wake up, give them what they need, then go back to bed. To that ideal I say... HELL NO! That is not what I experienced. It was a completely debilitating and exhausting period of time that I often thought I wouldn’t be able to get through. I’m sure many moms feel this way, but I have the extra added complication of not liking naps. That’s right, I do not take or enjoy naps.

It's counterintuitive that I am both a super sleeper and a non-napper, but it’s true I detest naps. For me, taking a nap is like licking a candy bar. You get just a taste of the awesomeness of what could be and are left craving for more. Naps are so unsatisfying and such a tease. I don’t want to sleep for just 30 minutes…I want the full 9 hour experience! I, of course, have occasionally taken a nap, but I never wake up refreshed. Instead I wake up groggy and miserable...counting the hours to when I can go to bed for the whole entire night.

The worst thing about my sleeping superpower is that so many fail to recognize it and acknowledge it for the achievement it is- LOL! In fact, the opposite is usually the case. I’ve faced negative scrutiny and disdain for my sleeping my whole life. Some assume I’m lazy. Others can’t help but comment over and over again, and with a touch of scorn, on how early I go to bed or how late I get up. I suppose if you aren’t a good sleeper, prefer naps, or otherwise don’t need a lot of sleep, my habits may seem unusual, but I’m here to say that #SNOOZERLIVESMATTER (Yes, I’m kidding and mean no disrespect to the real # lives matter movements!) and we deserve not to be negatively judged!

So, fellow super-sleepers out there I am here for you and am sending you a hug that feels like a weighted blanket when you have the AC turned up high i.e. HEAVEN! I am wholeheartedly on team sleep and will forever be proud of my snoozing abilities. Don't underestimate the refreshing powers of sleeping and join me this summer by sleeping in, sleeping a lot, and sleeping with a smile!

“Early to bed, late to wake, makes ME happy so give me a break!” ~ Jen Staples