Do you not know
that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have
received from God? You are not your own.
1 Corinthians 6:19
For the last few weeks, sleep has not come easy. With that
said, I begin reflecting on WHY and
what factors are contributing to the
problem.
I can work with out sleep, but…. It
“ ain’t a purty sight” after 48 hours or so. I actually become less
productive than if I just stop and rest with sleep. Now, that is easier said
than done.
I don’t want to admit this, but the type A perfectionist, that
over achieves and over books, during certain months of the year, has so much,
that I feel needs to be done, that my body and mind will not shut down to
rest. I can predict on a calendar, when
the insomnia will occur. End of the
school year, Beginning of the school year are the worst but there are a few moments
in between. So….. what have I learned in my many years of experience and what
am I going to do about it?
Answering this
question is where the science teacher and investigator come into play. I found some interesting facts which include
the following top 5 on my list:
Lack of sleep causes accidents
Lack of sleep impairs your ability to think and learn
Lack of sleep makes you forgetful
Lack of sleep ages your skin
Lack of sleep contributes to obesity
And the list goes on
and on……
When I think I am getting more accomplished by working
through the night or late into the early morning of the night, in reality, I
don’t think I really get more done. I have to try to make up the lost sleep. I
take a nap or go to bed early. I must shut down the main hard drive (my brain)
to make the sleep count. During the worst times of the year, I have learned
that making lists and checking off the events or projects, one at the time, will
trick my mind into a somewhat less stressed state and I can get a few hours of
sound sleep.
Whatever the trick that you have found for survival, use it
to calm the soul and ease the mind, so that the needed rest can allow for
optimum performance at your task.
Our bodies are God’s temple…. Taking care of your body with
rest is one way that we can give God our best.
