Today begins week 4 of our PATH Adventure, Thirty Winks. In addition to inviting participants to move more, we’ve sent 12,000 Vermonters on a personal quest for the treasure of good sleep.
In the first week, two people who sleep well wrote and asked why on earth would we bother with this topic. Responding to the squeaky wheel, I decided to address this in the next Monday message. I carefully touted stats such as, “74% of Americans experience a sleep issue at any given time” (Nat’l Sleep Foundation). Chances are these people at least know a loved one who doesn’t sleep well. And, perhaps one day they themselves might not be Rip Van Winkle; it could all come in handy eventually.
I also reminded people that all PATH programs are flexible. We provide guidelines — solid public health guidelines mind you, but not mandates. Knowledge is power, right? Do with it what you will and leave the rest on the table.
I hit publish and bit my nails. Who else would write with disdain about our sleep story…
By 9 am the following Monday morning I’d heard from hundreds of people who are dealing with sleep issues in vast abundance, deeply grateful for the added focus beyond exercise and eating well alone. Bring it on, they said! Now that’s what I’m talking about! People who reach out and are ready to grow, ready to be heart healthy and full of life.
We listen carefully to what our participants say, in addition to watching statistics and research trends, and we have heard loud and clear that, energy and fatigue are the second biggest culprits that spoil great exercise or other heart healthy intentions (time being the first).
When we’re tired, we take short cuts and easily cave to wicked cravings. That’s not terrible on occasion. When it happens daily and builds up over months and into years, we’re looking at needing to reverse a hard wired set of undesirable habits.
February is also National Go Red for Heart Health Awareness month. As it winds down, take heart that healthy sleep plays a huge role. Giving your heart a chance to relax and recharge is central to the healing powers of 7-8 hours of shut-eye. Don’t cheat your heart, or your brain for that matter. Your memory and cognitive processing skills also require that you “sleep on it.” Oh, and the color red? It’s great for a bedroom to promote romance and relaxation.
Sleeping well is bolstered by exercise and exercise by sleep. One plays off the other. It’s an upward spiral that begins, as Lao Tzu said, “With a single step.”
Your heart is full, we know. No one goes into education, government, or human service work for the fame and fortune. Ha! At PATH we are so grateful for the work you all do. Therefore we want to help protect your heart so you can continue on this journey of helping others, fully endowed with the tools to endure.
Step toward one heart healthy action today, even if it’s just a simple step toward better sleep. Here are three tips to nudge you forward:
- Spend 10 minutes before bedtime quietly meditating on all that is good in your life.
- Savor your favorite food treat. Sit down, without distraction and slowly eat, really reveling in it.
- Take a short, brisk stroll ANYWHERE (a little further than you normally walk now) – if you don’t currently walk, just try 10 minutes to get you started.
Hey, you gotta start somewhere and your heart and your dreams will thrive with every stride you make.
Sweet dreams, Go Red for heart health and we’ll see YOU on the PATH Ahead