I swear, sometimes I think animals are smarter than people. Between nine thirty and ten o’clock every night, Phoebe, our Border collie mix, barks at us and tries to herd my husband and me to the bedroom. She doesn’t give up and is very insistent. Once we are in bed, she nestles between us, and she is content. While she may appear to be a spoiled little brat (and she is), she knows that sleep is important to her human pack.
Sleep and rest are both renewing and refreshing. Many of us don’t get enough of it, especially moms and dads. It’s during sleep that your body repairs itself and relaxes. Your brain also needs a break so it can rest and renew. Sleep distances you from the problems and events of the day. When you get enough sleep and rest, you can face another day stronger than you were at the end of the day before.
In Genesis, God set forth an example for mankind. He rested on the seventh day after Creation. Rest is not a choice but a necessity. If God rested, then we who are created in His image must do the same.
Like everything else in life, it is something that you must schedule. In this electronic age, the workplace takes up more time than ever, and many can’t seem to get away from email and work-related issues at a decent hour. Then add children and their practices, games, lessons, school-related events, and homework into the mix. Let’s not forget that everyone has relationships that one must attend to, whether it be spouses, significant others, family, friends…you name it. Who has time for rest and sleep? If we are not consistent with our sleep, it ends up being something that we must do because our battery dies, or we would keep on going without it.
According to most studies, 6-9 hours of sleep is ideal and depends on the person. If you go too long without proper sleep and rest, your body will start to break down, and your brain will sputter. You know how much sleep you need to feel rested.
Even though the concept of a good night’s sleep and time for rest seems like a luxury in our society, it is too important not to make it a priority in our day. After all, everyone needs distance from today to be renewed to face the challenges of tomorrow. Proper sleep can help you be more balanced. It is something you can do with little effort that will make you a more relaxed, less stressed person.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:2-3
From my book Reflecting Back and Moving Forward