I love going to bed early, I always have. As a kid I’d go to bed early and I’d get up really early, – it’s just naturally what I did.
Even when I was in my early teens I did this. I would always be up before 6 am to do my paper round. What I really loved was that it was quiet, no one else was around apart from the birds, a little wildlife and the sun coming up – it was a really precious time. In the summer time I would be up out of bed extra early, by 5 am, and after my paper round I’d go for a swim at the open air swimming pool before cycling to school and just about getting to the class register in time… it felt great.
What didn’t feel good was when I used to have to wait for my dad to pick me up from my grandma’s house in the evenings. Often he would work late till 10 pm or later, and I would be dog tired, trying to stay awake, wishing I could go to bed. This would make it a struggle to get up the next day and I would be like a zombie in the mornings and it felt awful. I would rarely speak to anyone in this state.
When I progressed into my later teens and life became about going out in the evenings and drinking, clubbing and taking drugs, I really suffered. Often I would go straight to work in a restaurant that morning (without going to bed at all) and my dad would have to meet me with my work uniform at the train station.
When these sorts of weekends happened and I had ignored my sleep rhythm completely, I would usually get sick. Often I would suffer from tonsillitis, or I would feel completely wiped out and needing to stay in bed for a few days, feeling feverish and depleted. This happened regularly, as during this time I rarely listened to my body at all.
I still don’t like the feeling of being really knackered when I go to bed. Even if I lie in the next day, I don’t feel as energised as when I have an early night. In fact, if I doze on or fall asleep again, I can feel really groggy from too much sleep or not having the right quality of sleep.
It’s like I’m not honouring my body when I’m ready to wake up and start the day. This is the same as not honouring what I’m feeling when I’m tired and ready to go to sleep.
About 7 years ago, I heard Serge Benhayon present at a Universal Medicine workshop that our bodies get the most beneficial rest when sleeping between 9 pm and 3 am. So I decided to try it.
At the time I was working full time 9 am to 6 pm, commuting 3 hours each day, and studying. I would get home around 7.30 pm, have supper, and would try to read or do homework afterwards, but of course I was too tired. I began setting my alarm for about 5 am, and actually did my reading and assignments in bed. Sometimes I would go for a swim before work and for the first time ever, I would make myself a healthy and delicious breakfast before I left the house, rather than rushing out the door and grabbing a snack at the train station. Suddenly, mornings were my absolute favourite time of the day again:
I was allowing myself the time to do various tasks without rushing and I even enjoyed my commute, as there was time to walk along the river instead of catching a bus.
Now I go to bed between 9 and 10 pm, sometimes earlier. I love going to bed early, getting into bed and snuggling, writing in my diary, drinking herbal tea and massaging cream into my hands. I love waking early and I get so much done in that time, whether it’s writing, cooking, studying, exercise, massage … If I tried to do these things in the evening after working all day, I know I would be feeling too tired to enjoy them in the same way.
In the evenings I can come home and start winding down from my day, knowing any other tasks I have to do can be done when I wake up bright as a button the next morning. I don’t feel the need to stay up late after a day at work to have ‘me’ time, as I have already had this before work.
It feels natural to me and makes so much sense to go to bed early when I begin feeling tired in the evening, rather than staying up late and actually waking up still feeling tired before a new day ahead. I’m still refining this rhythm and my sleep, as sometimes I might eat too much in the evening, slob out, or eat something sweet, and consequently I struggle to get up in the morning, so I’m beginning to notice more how I am and what I’m doing at the end of my day to ensure I feel great when I wake.
What’s interesting is that the same principle also plays out throughout the day. I notice if I eat too much at lunchtime or don’t take a break from my desk, I can get sleepy or unfocussed. What started off as just experimenting with going to bed a little earlier and doing homework in the morning instead of the evening, has developed into a rhythm that supports me throughout my whole day.
My body is always telling me what it likes and what it doesn’t. I am learning to listen and honour this and take more care of myself. Winding down from my day and going to bed early has certainly been a big part of the way I now self-care.
With thanks to Serge Benhayon, Universal Medicine practitioners and the student body who are a constant support and inspiration to me.
By Laura Hoy, Essential Oil Consultant, Company Manager, Brighton, UK
Further Reading:
Sleep – Time To Restore And Refresh
Sleep
Early to Bed, Early to Rise, Makes you Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
922 Comments
There is a rhythm that our bodies love that brings harmony and connection, we just have to listen to our bodies to find it.
I am absolutely with you, with regards to the paper round Laura. It was so beautiful to watch mists lift, light transform and day unfold – like an unwrapping or unveiling of a magic gift. How can you watch a stunning sunrise and forget about God? Thank you for sharing your Love and how this appreciation of divinity inspires you to sleep beautifully.
Thank you Laura, giving our-self the space where our daily rhythm is aligning to what our body has always shared is so important to our overall well-being and sleep is an essential part.
“Going to Bed Early” is a wise choice.. and going to bed at whatever time and when the body needs to rest, rejuvenate is equally as wise a choice too.
What a gorgeous way to support ourselves, some nights I work late at work or on community projects I am involved in, what I find is that by that having an early to bed rhythm most nights when I can it really supports those nights when I do need to stay up and stay alert and present.
I’ve noticed this too Sam, if my usual early to bed rhythm is strong, then this supports me to not get wiped out if I have a late night commitment and also when travelling in different time zones. It also makes me cherish the early night ritual even more.
Such a great read Laura! I have always been a night owl…. found it really difficult to get out of bed when I was a kid and to a certain extent still do. I resist going to bed early SO MUCH I can’t believe it!! If I have a reason to get up, I will, because I have to. I used to work long hours in a cafe and would have my alarm go off at 3.30am sometimes in order to be at work for 5am…. I totally managed it because I had to but as soon as I was up and about, I wasn’t tired. Similarly I used to have central London appointments at 6am to avoid traffic and be able to get back to work on time, that again involved 3.30am starts and on those days I noticed I was on it all day, feeling great. So I do have to evidence that getting up early works for me but am having real difficulty choosing it consistently. I love what you say about having “me time” in the morning so you don’t feel like your whole day has been about work and therefore stay up later to have me time, that is very cool.
Sounds like when there is ‘purpose’ you can get it together and it feels good. This is something I have noticed too, when I have an ‘important enough reason’ I’m up and on it bright and early and that focus is present through out – then there are some days that I wake early, but go back to bed for a snuggle as there is no deadline and before I know it 2 hours passed by in a blink!
I am learning to stay with the feelings of what I don’t like and still surrender to it, if something is being absorbed by my body to stay with it and not want to run away from it. When I stay and not need it to change, it clears, such is the wisdom of the body.
I was talking to my colleagues recently and our jobs are quite demanding, everyone was sharing how they go to bed early as a way to support themselves in the job.
When I was in my 20’s I used to look at the time and plan my sleep from there. Weekdays was 10:45pm and weekends – 2am-3am. And I used to push myself based on the timings. These days, i have to appreciate that I don’t clock the time anymore. I allow myself to go to bed when my body tells me – it is a totally different experience and one that is so supportive for me. A total change and so much more loving to my body.
Thank you Laura. A very simple loving free act that does not take much of change for it to become a loving discipline part of your rhythm.
its quite funny to understand that as a child you and your body already knew the rhythm that supported you.
I watched a first aid training video recently where they showed toddlers walking around lifting boxes and they instinctively know how to lift something heavy in a way that absolutely supports their body, they just don’t ‘think’ to compromise it.
What a difference this makes – honouring the body and just playing with sleep and the quality of sleep. I certainly spent some time in my 20’s staying out all night and pushing through – and I would notice how my face would change. I would have a puffy oily face that was not me. My hair would be oily and my voice would go deeper. It was a huge flag that my body was pushing itself. I have not felt that way for years, and I don’t miss it one bit. Now my evenings stop around 9pm, which supports me for the day.
I totally adore going to bed early, all that time I spent watching mindless tv over the years when I could have been in my bed. I now go to bed at the same time as my daughter, we read, most times me to her but sometimes she will read to me. Its is a beautiful time to share as I am always off to work in the mornings before she is awake.
This is really lovely Kev, I’ve observed that many parents want to have ‘me time’ after their kids go to bed, what does that say about the quality of the time in their day with their kids? I’ve also noticed that many parent suffer sleep deprivation and wondered why they don’t just go to bed earlier -I’m sure there are many reasons, but it could be so simple.
I got up super early today, worked hard all day and got lots of things done all staying connected with me. I know for sure I would not be half so active, productive and committed throughout my day if I did not have a steady rhythm of going to bed early- I just would not be able to do it.
I have been going to bed early again recently and I am loving how I feel – so much more with myself. I am also having more baths than showers these days, not only is it very warming as the days are cold now but also it supports me to be more at ease in my body and not go into the drive to get things done.
I love an electric blanket Elaine, I put it on before bed to warm my Pj’s up – super cosy.
Our body communicates very clearly when we are out of sync with our natural harmony and rhythm and when we listen and honour what our body is telling us it is able to restore and rebalance itself. Such is the wisdom in our body. The key is whether we are willing to truly listen to the wisdom that it is offering.
I love the commitment to an early bed, that is now so much part of my routine that my whole day is structured to support me to arrive in my room early to wind down for bed – and it really is seeing the whole day as leading into my sleep and either carrying with me all the issues I have accululated or laying myself down ready to really rest.
When I go to bed early I always feel I have more time to prepare myself for sleep and the quality of sleep is entirely different to if I have found things to distract myself with instead of going to bed.
As a child I also loved going to sleep early and remember clearly how horrible it felt when I had to stay up late in a restaurant when all I wanted was to be tucked up in bed.
Such common basic sense that for many might seem child’s play but it rarely is lived! Sometimes the body is wiser than we care to think, much less admit.
I have always enjoyed going to bed early but during most of my life I believed that this meant I was missing out or that I would be seen as rather dull. No longer, I have given myself permission to listen to my body and once again enjoy going to bed early having a deeply restorative sleep and waking early in the morning to start the day.
This is one of my favourite blogs to read – why? because it reminds me of the importance of sleep, getting to bed early and the importance of wind down. Get this right and we have the foundation of a fruitful loving life. Getting sleep time right is going back to basics – basics that we need before we more forward in other way.
Thanks Samantha, we are such a super intelligent species, but seriously, how many of us have got the basics down – sleep, diet and exercise?
Great to read how your attention to detail has supported your whole daytime/bedtime routine that allows you to have beautifully restorative sleep that means you are then fully able to participate in life as soon as you wake up.
What I love about what you have shared Laura is how you have noticed how it infiltrates into your whole day. The impact by honouring and respecting the body has a massive ripple effect and when we start to live like this our acceptance of what were are worth starts to shift. I know that when I bring awareness to all that you have shared and live from what my body is asking I know and feel that I am absolutely worth that honouring and love.
I love that I am more likely to get up at 3 30am these days rather than to go to bed at that time. I used to love going to parties and stay up all night to be with the dawning of the day. Now I do that every day. There is such a lovely energy to the early mornings and like-wise going to bed at 9pm or so means there is a winding down and stilling energy supporting us as we prepare for sleep. A time when our bodies, if we let them, seem to be saying yes, it’s time to rest and recuperate and prepare for another day on the morrow.
I know what you mean about the energy of the evenings and early mornings, just now we are heading into autumn and there is not light for a while, I just put some fairy lights in my bedroom to bring a bit more gentle light to room when I’m winding down and waking up, it feels very gorgeous. I actually just read this article on making a sacred space in your bedroom which made me appreciate those little touches that make such a difference to the feel of the space and how it supports us: https://doctoramelia.com/2017/10/16/sacred-space/
Reading your inspiring blog and some of the comments I feel I am pushing my body in the evening when it already feels tired, I still have ‘important’ things to do, instead of honouring my body and say it is enough for the day and go to sleep in a caring and nurturing way. I do realise now that is no wonder I don’t wake up energized. Great call to feel into and adjusting my rhythm not only of the evening because this is a reflection of how I am with myself during the day.
‘I don’t feel the need to stay up late after a day at work to have ‘me’ time, as I have already had this before work.’ When we begin our day feeling solid in ourselves it lays the foundation for the rest of our day to flow, which then flows into the next day, and the next day.
I have always loved going to bed early too. I know I used to stay up mostly for others, going out or watching TV. Now I just like observing how my body naturally feels tired and then just simply putting myself to bed. My night time rhythm definitely needs a bit of work as I can still push my body in the evening past when it feels tired, which may be 8pm some nights. It’s learning to honour my body completely rather than looking at the clock.
Thanks Jen, I have been waking up groggy in the mornings and initially wondered about working on my ‘night time rhythm’. But I guess the day time rhythm leads to the night time rhythm, so if we push our bodies in the day, we are likely to push it into the evening. Im bringing it back to basics, for example the way i open my eyes… and close them. Moving my body in a more caring way…. will see how I go…
I know I would not be able to do half the things I do if I did not have an early to bed routine, going to bed early supports me in so many ways.
I have always loved going to bed early but used to struggle waking up in the morning. This used to puzzle me as I felt that I was allowing my body plenty of sleep. It took a while to figure out that going to bed early was great but it was the quality of how I lived my day that determined the quality of my sleep. Once I began to bring a deeper awareness of how I lived and worked during the day and introduced little stop moments quite regularly, as well as unwinding much earlier in the evening than I had been, the quality of my sleep improved and I finally was able to wake up more easily. I love this way of living and my body does too.
Thank you Ingrid, our sleep reveals much if we are willing to be curious…
Going to bed early makes sense and staying up late feels torturous, no matter how hard we might try to convince ourselves that it is otherwise.
Around 2am/3am in our city everything starts to get busy, the police, fire and ambulance services are out likely to busy around these times. Crazy how as members of the public we drain our very own resources by being irresponsible.
Something for all to consider here Samantha, there have been times when I’ve taken early morning strolls through the city I live in and I am really walking through the carnage of the debauchery from the night before. It’s quite a shock to see people in such a state, but also the mess that is left behind on the beach and the streets. You can see how as a society if we were to take responsibility to a great level of personal care for ourselves, our fellow brethren would reap huge benefits.
There is nothing lovelier than taking the time to prepare for bed and going to bed early!
It’s quite shocking how much we can compromise our natural and desired rhythm in favour of fitting in or being part of the ‘normalised’ way of living. i.e drinking, partying, late dinners out etc. It’s obvious that society does not value the body when we look at all the very active and abusive activities that are glorified during the time when our bodies want to naturally regenerate.
So true, there is a natural call from our bodies to sleep when we are tired and get up and work when we are rested. If we make a note of what rhythm is being called from our bodies it usually falls somewhere between 8 and 10pm and waking between 5 and 6am. Since honouring my bodies rhythm I have found I wake earlier at times. I don’t fight it any more because I can feel that my body is rested and ready for the day. It is not a clock-watching exercise, moreover it is about honouring the rhythm of my body.
I love it Leigh, going to bed early is the new normal, anything after 9pm is late ; )
Going to bed at 9pm now is not early it’s become my normal. And the more I look at how I live it’s becoming normal to wake up vital and ready for the day. I love doing my study and writing in the mornings rather than in the evening after work. I had an online work assignment given yesterday to do for today. I tried to do it last night but the pull to go for a walk was greater. I woke up before my alarm, refreshed and got it done with ease before the sun rose.
The thought of going to bed later makes my body hurt – let alone if I actually do it. I love going to bed early in what works for me and my rhythm.
One of the best things I can do for myself is to go to bed early, going to bed earlier my body is able to deal with what I have taken on during the day so I wake up fresh and with joy in my step!
Getting back to my original early to bed early to rise rhythm has been so amazing and if I had my time in this life over again I would never have strayed from it in the first place.