Sweet Dreams
“ May you fall asleep in the arms of a dream so beautiful, you’ll cry when you awake.”
Michael Faudet
It is said that we only need 4-5 hours of physically restorative sleep per night and that in the extra time, we are plugged in, so to speak doing a number of possible additional things almost like when you put your computer to sleep. Different ages require different amounts of sleep, and for the average adult, 7-9 hours is ideal. It is hard to believe that even science doesn't fully understand the need for sleep or what consciousness is. But what it does tell us is that we make memories while we sleep. During the phase of sleep known as the "Slow-Wave" sleep, the one just before REM "The Dream State," the mind replays what it has experienced that day and determines whether it's worth storing; It's like a piece of mental housekeeping. Data is circulated along neurons and through synapses from the short-term memory hippocampus to the cortex's long-term storage. This data fires back and forth until it's consolidated as memory. Research shows us that people who sleep just after studying are better at retaining what they've learned.
Research also shows us that having good dreams improves sleep quality. Why do we dream, and how do we ensure good dream quality? Neuroscientists believe dreams are necessary and triggered by our minds for practical reasons like solving real-life problems and processing emotions that we might be afraid of while we're awake. Another cool belief is that our dreams are there to nurture our creativity. No doubt, dreams are still a mystery but reflect our inner thoughts, experiences, and feelings. There appears to be common themes in dreams, and maybe comfort in numbers knowing that just because you dream your teeth are falling out, it doesn't necessarily mean they will. Maybe we are feeling vulnerable somehow in real life. Dream interpretation is better done through our perspective of the world. Dream interpretation can be fascinating, and there are different techniques to explore your dreams and their meanings.
Have you ever had a dream and you love being in it so much that you can actually influence the dream? Or you wake up and can go back to the dream somewhere at a point you left off? We know babies and our animals are dreaming. What are babies dreaming about? Do they recall memories back to the womb? All very fascinating stuff and worthy of our curiosity. Besides the body's physical healing and restoration, It appears we are plugged into something while dreaming, perhaps memories and consciousness? With all of that going on one can only imagine that it makes practical sense to shut down the system for the proper work to be done.
How do we contribute to better dreaming? It is essential to avoid going to bed stressed. There's something to the old saying, "never go to bed angry" When we go to bed angry or stressed, we release adrenaline and cortisol, which can disrupt REM sleep (dream phase). Preparing the mind for healthy dreaming can start by taking 10-15 minutes before bedtime to unwind and maybe even visualize what you will dream about, kick-starting the process within the mind. I like even setting an intention before sleep about what I may need some clarity on or intending my sleep quality. There are many self-care and relaxation techniques for pre-sleep preparation and non-narcotic sleep aids that can be initiated during the day well before bedtime. If you wake up with a bad dream, try a mini relaxing technique by shifting your focus to your heart and then imagine a happy ending to that dream. And finally, it may be a good idea to have a dream journal next to your bed. Record your dreams and how they made you feel as well as any patterns that start to emerge.
If you're continually waking up exhausted instead of refreshed, and don't have an underlying medical condition there's a lot that can be done to improve your sleep hygiene. Restorative sleep is not only desired but truly is a necessity for our overall well-being.
Night Night Sleep Tight!
XO, Donna
I am here if you need some guidance for exploring better sleep hygiene https://www.mindfullyconnected.org
Check out my new Building Heart Centered Personal Resilience Group Workshop Series https://www.mindfullyconnected.org/group-series
Dream and Sleep Apps & Books
Dreams, Your dream journal
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dreams-your-dream-journal/id1225560667
Dream Meanings
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.en.sennik&hl=en_US&gl=US
Book - Why We Sleep, The new science of sleep and dreams By, Matthew Walker
Book - Tired but Wired, How to overcome sleep problems: The essential toolkit By, Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan
