How much do you enjoy sleep? Do you bring your phone with you to your bedroom when it is time to sleep? Have you ever considered the idea that perhaps our phones might be more of a distraction at night than a helpful sleep aid?
I have mulled over these questions at length because I love sleep. After becoming a mom well over a decade ago, I find myself daydreaming about uninterrupted sleep. In fact, my dream vacation is a night or two away by myself at a swanky resort. I would arrive at the resort with my pillow, pajamas, toiletries, and my mind at ease knowing my family is safe and well cared for. My only agenda would be to turn off the world and enjoy uninterrupted, luxurious sleep. That’s how much I adore sleep.
Years ago, I realized I had to change the way I prioritized my work-life balance. I made a serious commitment to not work late into the night anymore. It didn’t take long to notice how much better I started to feel when I wasn’t burning the candle at both ends. Realizing how important sleep is to my overall sense of well-being (while obvious to many people) was a serious awakening after spending years perpetually sleep deprived. I am protective of my sleep now more than ever. More and more, I am looking for ways (other than a sleep vacation) to improve the quality of a good night’s rest.
I discovered a while ago that using my phone as an alarm clock was proving to be a distraction that hijacked my quality of sleep. I never used to bring my phone to bed. In fact, I was blissfully behind the times — I bought my first phone when I was in my late twenties! It wasn’t a smart phone either, that came later. Looking back, I realized I was happy and peaceful with my regular alarm clock. Its only job was to wake me up at a designated time. My alarm clock didn’t periodically ding, ring, notify me, or tempt me to go down a rabbit hole of distraction.
I am not against having a phone. My phone is a helpful tool that has streamlined life in many ways. Having access to my phone has made my business, which is primarily online, much easier. But when I look at the big picture and take sleep into consideration, it makes perfect sense that my phone does not belong in my bedroom as I rest and recharge. In order to be fresh to enjoy a new day, it became clear I needed to remove as many controllable distractions from my bedroom as possible.
I like my home and space to be clutter free. I didn’t want to get a plug-in alarm clock that would take up space on my nightstand. I found a small, simple battery operated alarm clock made of wood — perfect! My husband now has one on his nightstand too. Since making this change, my quality of sleep has improved tremendously. I wind down easily in the evening because I am not checking last minute emails, texts or social media posts. I am no longer tempted to check my phone in the middle of the night if I happen to wake up.
I now keep my phone in a different room at night. When I wake up in the morning I naturally ease into the day, instead of reaching for my phone. I spend the first few minutes thinking about everything I am grateful for. Looking back, I can now laugh at how much I was getting in my own way. Leading a simpler, quiet, restful life is always within our reach. It is ours by design.
If you are considering ways to improve your sleep, I definitely recommend going back to trusted old school methods of waking up, such as: an alarm clock, rooster, sunrise, etc. See what happens when you take a break from your phone — you may be pleasantly surprised.
❤ Emily
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