Good Night, Sleep Tight (In a hurry? Read the last paragraph: what sleep animal are you???)
It’s rather shocking and amazing how the phrases we often use are said without thinking. The above is one of them. What exactly is sleeping tight? The phrase comes from the experience of sleeping in a rope-strung bed. Instead of springs, these beds supported a mattress or feather bed using ropes connected to the bed frame. After a sleeper who packed a few pounds had used the bed, the ropes needed to be yanked on, and again tied tightly under the mattress to keep it in place. Getting ready for bed could require more than brushing your teeth…which according to the history of dental hygiene and dental methods, if the tooth was decayed, someone simply yanked it out. But the absence of a tooth brushing routine provided the hefty sleeper time to pull tight on the bed ropes, probably every night. THE GOOD OLD DAYS?
In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, entitled THE POWER OF SLEEP, Samsung provided more interesting SLEEP HISTORY.
Though our parents might have told us we needed 8 hours of sleep per night, sleep patterns and need are unique to individuals. As unique as our fingerprints, a person’s chronotype or sleep preferences should be considered when buying a bed or creating a sleep atmosphere that will encourage a good night’s rest. Modern technology can now analyze your sleep patterns, using a personal sleep coach. Samsung now has a Sleep Coaching Program…a trainer to help you track daily habits (activity, food and drink intake) to help you improve the pathway to a good night sleep. Two changes the article mentions is meditating at night before sleep, and then waking to natural light in the morning.
Vanessa Hill, a sleep researcher, used Samsung’s program to change her sleep habits. She focused on being active during the day AND practiced deep breathing before going to bed.
ME? I often watch stimulating films with my husband before bed; I have also been known to snack on dark chocolate. Both bad choices for falling into a restful sleep.
THE BEDROOM
Optimizing your environment for a healthy sleep; what to consider: Noise levels; light exposure; room temperature…though counterintuitive, the National Sleep Foundation states that a cool 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit and 15.5-19.4 degrees Celsius is ideal
SLEEP COACHING THE LIST!!!
In the Samsung promo, I found this fun and interesting: SLEEP COAHCING TAILORED BY SLEEP ANIMAL SYMBOL
The UNCONCERNED LION: he or she has healthy sleep patterns, sleeping at consistent times, getting enough sleep and sleeping deeply.
The SENSITIVE HEDGEHOG: Enough total sleep time but spends too much of that time awake and has inconsistent sleep times.
The NERVOUS PENGUIN: Sufficient and consistent sleep times, but remains alert and wakes up often during the night.
SUN-ADVERSE MOLE: Enough sleep without waking up too often, but has inconsistent sleep times. Tends to avoid sunlight.
CAUTIOUS DEER: Consistent sleep times, but is skittish, tends to toss and turn, and doesn’t sleep long enough.
EASYGOING WALRUS: Consistent sleep times, but not enough sleep. Can stay awake for an unusually long time.
ALLIGATOR ON THE HUNT: Not enough total sleep time, wakes up often at night and has inconsistent sleep times.
EXHAUSTED SHARK: Not enough total sleep time, tends to toss and turn, and has inconsistent sleep times.
I would love to always be the Unconcerned Lion; and there are nights that I am. Bu I am probably most like the Sensitive Hedgehog.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Thanks for reading.
7 Responses
Shark, here. We just moved our dogs to beds on the floor and that has done wonders. One whiny night and the complaints stopped–they adjusted!
Hi Carol. That’s hard. Sometimes I have trouble falling asleep, if I’m worried about something. And I’m sure you don’t like
taking drugs to sleep. Do you nap during the day? Maybe you should. Thanks for reading, Beth
Interesting categories for sleeping. I’ll go a few days being the Unconcerned Lion but sometimes have nights when my body just doesn’t want to sleep. Go figure. Fun to hear about the statement, “Sleep tight.”
I started this novel by Jane Sweeney years ago..about sleeping in a log cabin. She did her research. Sleep tight was included, but so was
the fact that small animals could also get into log cabins, so that you were also sleeping with critters. Now your CAT is fine..but that’s
where I draw the line, Beth
Totally a penguin here. Sometimes it feels like I’m just skimming the waves and never going deep. Sleep and me would love to be friends…
Great article!
Sun Adverse Mole (I think) here. I have blackout curtains in my bedroom. I get up early on the two days (usually) I work and then stay up later and later and later on the days I don’t. What has really helped me is no screens for the last hour or so before bed. Happy I don’t live in the Sleep Tight days. I don’t need another chore before bed.
Thanks for commenting, Alana. I agree that not watching TV and reading, just relaxing before bed helps you fall into sleep. Some
nights for me are better than others. AND YES…no sleep tight nights for us! Beth