The Power of Sleep on the Heart, Mind and Soul

There are times in life where you just have to say, “I’m done.” I’m sure we have all faced hitting a brick wall a time or two. I have hit the brick wall. This isn’t about Christmas or the busyness of the season this is about life in general. It has been a hard Fall. It started with my own fall in a pothole, followed by Hubs unexpectedly going in the hospital with cellulitis, to going back into the hospital for his hip replacement and us both going to physical therapy. Thankfully, I was released on Friday, but Hubs is still in the process.

The week of Thanksgiving I ended up with a nasty bug and felt miserable on Thanksgiving Day. I took some cold medication which had an adverse reaction and had to lay down while cooking Thanksgiving dinner. I am thankful for my family who stepped in and finished dinner while I slept off the effects of the medication.

We have had two house renovation projects completed in the past two weeks which involved tearing our home up twice. Once for some new flooring which needed to be replaced as a result of water leaking into the floor from the outside and creating mold. The other reason was that our furnace is twenty-nine years old and it’s efficiency is zilch!
I’m also taking a pretty intense marketing class for my book launch. School means class time, homework and a ton of research all while keeping up with cleaning our home, grocery shopping, driving Hubs to doctor appointments and to work.

This past weekend was our Women’s Ministry Outreach event. I’ve been working on this event since last July. I serve with an amazing team of women, but it was a long week of final details, last minute changes, and fiery darts from an enemy who refuses to admit he is defeated.

Please hear me when I say I’m not complaining. I’m just tired. We ALL get tired. However, admitting we are tired seems taboo in our society. I’m here to tell you it is okay to say you are tired. There is no judgment on your abilities as a woman here. As women, we juggle many different plates and trying to keep those plates from falling is tiring. When was the last time you gave yourself a break? No matter what stage of life you are in there are always obligations we face with on a daily basis.

Recently, I was going through a journal I wrote in a few years ago and reminded myself that I needed to take my advice AGAIN. I wrote these four little phrases in a period of life that was filled with chaos because I was moving, starting a new job and faced with being a single parent for the first time.

•Watch What You Eat before it Eats You!
When I’m tired, the first thing to go is my healthier eating habits. Why? Because eating on the go seems to save time, but in the long run, it ends up costing me way (weigh) more. The best solution I have found is to have a plan and stick to it. I have learned there are foods I need to stay away from because they trigger my urge to throw caution to the wind. This is my reason no Archway Cashew Nougats can go into my cart or come into my home. (Just keeping it real!)

•Exercising Your Mind is as Important as Exercising Your Body!
It is important to keep your mind as active as your body. We need to have a keen sense of awareness of what our body, mind, and soul are telling us in order to take care of it. Our brain may not be muscle, but we need to keep it active like our bodies. Having a clear mind helps us to maintain stability in all areas of our lives. Physical exercise releases endorphins which make us happy and relieves stress. The last thing I want to do when I’m tired is go to the gym, so I don’t. I opt for longer walks from parking lots or put on an app from my phone or Roku. This is a huge timesaver because I don’t have to drive anywhere. Exercising also helps you to rest better. I have never got to the end of my workout and thought I wish I hadn’t done it. I always feel better knowing I did something good for my mind and my body.

•Don’t Say Anything You Wouldn’t Want Someone to Say to You or About You
When I am tired, I lose my filter. Although sarcasm is my first language, it is not flattering when I am tired. Somehow, it is like another person has taken over my tongue! There are things I have said I wish I could reel them back into my mouth, but I can’t. This little rule has helped me on more than one occasion and probably has saved my marriage and some precious friendships.

•Sleep is Mandatory
Sleep deprivation can cause elevated blood pressure levels, increase to illnesses and cause weight gain to name a few of the results from the lack of sleep. It puts us at a higher risk for accidents and can affect our metabolic system too. Set a time and go to bed. Don’t forget to start unwinding about an hour before you go to sleep. Turning off the computer, your phone, and other distractions helps your body to know it is time to rest. If you find yourself tired during the day and have the opportunity, take a nap. Naps are not indulgent; they are healthy #WednesdayWisdom Share on XNaps are not indulgent they are healthy. Twenty minutes of sleep is a great motivator when you are in a crunch period and provide some necessary relief.

Being tired is more than a physical issue. There are important reasons why we need to rest, refresh and renew. It is crucial to our well-being, and we can’t afford to neglect this area of our lives. If rest was so important that God would create a Sabbath and take one for Himself, it is equally important to take our Sabbath. Rest in Him!

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