Self -care

October 19th

Of all the ways for self-care that I learned over the last year the most important (and easiest) are naps. I never took them, it always seemed to me like a waste of time — sleeping is to be done at night only. Besides — when I was drinking I slept terribly, it took me an hour or more to fall asleep, I would wake up at night 3–4 times, there were nightmares and sweating — all the issues that addicts have. And if I would take a nap during the day then it would be even worse — I was not being able to fall asleep at all at night…

Since I don’t drink anymore, I sleep like a baby — falling asleep within minutes of going to bed, uninterrupted sleep for 6,5–7 hours (even more on weekends), balanced phases of non-REM sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. It is a huge change for me and I know how beneficial it is for my overall mental and physical health. And I even started napping whenever I feel I need it and of course, when I can (I would love to take nap right now but I think my co-workers might frown up it). Having extra 30–60 minutes of rest a day in the afternoon — not even full sleep, just laying in bed with my eyes closed is fine — calms me and gives me energy for the evening. Not to mention the pure pleasure of lying in a comfortable bed without worries and just letting my thoughts go in different directions. And it has no effect on my normal sleep pattern. I love it and believe that it could an added benefit of working from home in the future.