I found it great to read the comments of people’s experiences, observations and experiments around the practice of getting an early night in response to the article The Science of Early To Bed – so much wisdom readily available in us.
A few of the comments relating to what we do before we go to bed have activated my keyboard this morning. To me, ‘before’ bed is not just the last few minutes before I peel back the sheets and get in.
I agree with what has been shared that it’s how I do everything for the whole of the day that governs the ease of getting to sleep and the quality of my sleep.
But for me it goes back even further than the day’s activities, to how I make my bed in the morning. This may sound funny to some, and some may accuse me of being ‘obsessive’, however, in the morning as soon as I get up (early) I have a little ritual – fully present and loving with myself – when I make my bed. I devote up to 5 minutes to it.
I take off the pillows, top sheet, doona and blankets, whatever… then I smooth out all the wrinkles in the mattress protector and bottom sheet and tuck it back in tight so it’s neat, then shake and smooth out the pillows and put them in place, nicely centred. I then feel how much warmth I may need for the night and choose the coverings accordingly. After that the top sheet goes on, with the same length hanging down both sides of the bed, no wrinkles, and enough length up the pillow end for a comfortable fold-back. Then on goes the doona and/or blankets, also applied symmetrically and smoothed out. I finish by topping off with a couple of colour-matched velvet cushions, shaken out, smoothed and placed at harmonious angles.
Can you imagine the love and care pouring out of my bed, sitting there innocently awaiting me for later?
I can feel it myself, and so can others (“It feels so amazing, am I allowed to sit here?” kind of thing.) When it’s time for me to go to bed and I begin to peel back the covers, my face erupts in a smile ‘all by itself’ – my body is feeling the love I have put into my bed to support and cradle me all night. It feels so delicious and inviting, the smile is inevitable! I can go to sleep within seconds of my head meeting the pillow . . . provided of course I have quietened myself down from the day instead of leaping into bed at 10,000 rpm. Even then, the quality of love in my bed is so strong and supportive that it can help me wind down . . .
It might seem like there’s not enough time in the day to put this level of care into things like making one’s bed, preparing one’s food, clothes, bathroom, kitchen, work spaces, etc., but when you factor in the time lost to feeling tense, tired and disconnected, making complications, messes and mistakes that we have to go back and clean up or correct, being moody and creating issues in relationships that have to be resolved, running out of energy before the day’s over, etc., I reckon the small amount of time given to making my bed and putting loving self-care into one’s physical environment is a great return on investment!
Dedicated to everyone’s loving choices that bring the best quality sleep!
By Dianne Trussell BSc, science researcher, educator & writer, Goonellabah, NSW, Australia
Further Reading:
Insomnia – my sleep disorder or my daily dis-order?
Ironing the Pillow Cases – A Lesson of Love
Early to Bed, Early to Rise, Makes you Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
Livingness Toolkit
905 Comments
So so simple, and something to live by. I make a point to observe what my relationship with this is day to day. This morning was a bit of a rush, late night last night and fell into bed and then up early on the move again… yes lots getting done but in what quality? And that is reflected in how much time I gave to making my bed. I can have the same itinerary but giving myself (the bed etc) that extra minute or two to make sure the quality is there, changes everything through my day.
I love this idea of your bed, so beautifully made up, sitting and waiting for you all day to come back to. And I love how simple and practical self-care can be, with just a few extra moments that can make all the difference to a whole nights sleep.
This does make such a difference, and it is very much about preparing, preparing for life, all the details of life matter. Being aware that we come back to what we have chosen is important, and how we make our bed definitely shows us this every day.
This is true self care and it is this deeper level of care for ourselves that always comes back, doesn’t matter if it is making our bed or cleaning the house, getting dressed in the morning, when we do it with the quality that is in us, it will serve not only ourselves but everyone, it emanates out and is felt whether people are aware of it or not.
True we are so powerful when we balance our life in repose and motion, so winding down before going to bed is crucial. And making your bed from this still place within one self is very supportive indeed.
That is so true, how much time we waste during the day, because we get busy with things, that don´t evolve us any bit. For me it is really painful by now, when I review a day and see pockets of wasted time, by getting drawn in any humanly discussions, issues that are actually not existing anymore, thinking etc. I really hate that fog, that is polluting my presence then.
I would very much appreciate to sleep in a bed that you finished to get ready to sleep in. It must feel like heaven lying down in the dedication of your preparing.
The days were my room is out of order show me that there are things I am letting slip or things that I am not dealing with in my day and it is reflected in how I care for my space which also reflects how I have been caring for me.