In a time when we often find ourselves divided instead of united,

Be reminded, there is only one force that overcomes fear and hate,

LOVE makes US great!

Welcome to the eighth month of LOVE makes US great! This blog follows a monthly formula. First week – bringing more love to ourselves. Let’s start loving.

GEMS is the foundation of self-love for me. In May, June, and July, I introduced the first three elements of my GEMS practice – Gratitude, Exercise, and Meditation. This month, we focus on the S – Sleep.

Who has a cat(s)? If you do, one of the admirable qualities of cats is how they luxuriate in sleep. Cats sleep 12-18 hours a day. Some have their favorite spots, and others plop down anywhere. Cats have figured out the value of rest, and they are unapologetic about it.

There was a time when getting 5-6 hours of sleep was a good sleep for me, or so I thought. In my distorted view at the time, I wore it as a badge of honor. I had "important things to do" and viewed sleep as a nuisance, rather than a necessity to productivity and health. It is no wonder that during that same time, my blood pressure was high, I gained weight, and I ate ibuprofen like M&M's for migraines.

Getting more sleep was the first of the GEMS that I embraced to improve my health and happiness. I had to relearn how to sleep. Now there is a whole economy built around helping humans to sleep – weighted blankets, sleep apps, sleep trackers, sleep stories, sleep supplements, the list goes on. 

For me, the first step was committing to going to bed and rising at the same time every day. I have “bedtime” in my calendar as a reminder. Now I strive to be in bed by 8:30 and lights out by 9. I wake up around 4:30. This is my sleep sweet spot. It's different for everyone, experiment to see what your body craves. 

I’m lucky that I’m usually a fast and sound sleeper. Yet, there are those nights when sleep is elusive. This is where the meditation gem comes in. I go back to my breathing to still my mind and remind myself that I'm still getting rest, even if I'm not asleep. The amazing thing is that it usually also gets me to sleep. Having a purring cat nearby is a great sleep aid, too.

Sleep is necessary to be awake and present during our waking hours. Overscheduling leads to less productivity over time, not more. Less than optimum sleep over long periods leads to physical and mental health decline. Interestingly, one of the first physical changes I noticed after getting more sleep was a decrease in my struggle with weight. Now I rarely have migraines, and my blood pressure is spot on.

Making sleep and rest a non-negotiable is self-love in action. Please share what you do to purposely sleep and rest.

Love requires participation. 

Love requires sharing. 

Love requires action. 

Love requires commitment. 

With gratitude,

Joyce Aiko

(Yes, love really is my middle name.)