Success is found in our daily routine.
I often get asked what my secret is to looking "this" young. As I do not have any full siblings, I'm not hundred percent sure if it is only my genes or if in fact there are other external factors effecting my slow(er?) aging process. Obviously there is no one answer to this but I am pretty sure sleep and the high quality sleep I experience on a regular basis has a significant role in my appearance.
This sh*t is important
Matthew Walker, the so-called Sleep Diplomat who is a rock star (to me) and a British scientist and professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California, Berkeley has some serious stuff to say about sleep. This one is important people, so pay attention.
He says that "the shorter your sleep, the shorter your life. The leading causes of disease and death in developed nations - diseases that are crippling health-care systems, such as heart disease, obesity, dementia, diabetes, and cancer - all have recognized causal links to a lack of sleep."
Now, we may not be able to prevent death or any of these things from happening, but it sure looks like we have the keys to try and do something about it.
In my experience sleeping well is based on routine. I need to be in bed by a certain time to get enough sleep and this has also required paying attention to how much time I need in bed to relax before I actually fall asleep. This is a great time to reflect and show gratitude, to be thankful for even the smallest things that happened for me that day.
As I wake up early and feel uncomfortable if I am rushed, I prepare as much as I can in the evening to help me with my morning grooves.
We all know the feels after a good nights sleep and understand the importance of it, but why is sleep something we are too willing to compromise on? When do you sleep enough? Shouldn't it be more often than the weekends?
Lets demand ourselves the right to a full night of sleep. Make it a priority because your life depends on it. Treat it as a luxurious high-end whatever it is you admire because ultimately sleep is of immeasurable value.
Now, I don't know if sleep really does have anything to do with me looking younger but it sure rejuvenates the body, mind and soul. And a rested human, even those who are older, look spirited, like they are purposely enjoying life, keeping busy having a good time, and that's living like you mean it.
If you are interested in more of what Matthew Walker has to say about sleep, I highly recommend looking into his work.