Even though your body is tired, do you find it difficult to fall asleep? Do you toss and turn most nights? Or do you wake up after only a couple hours sleep and then can’t fall back to sleep for what seems like hours?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then you are experiencing one of the most common symptoms of stress – trouble sleeping! Implementing an Amish Hour could be just the thing to help you get the sleep you need and deserve.
Most of us have heard about the Amish people, and their simplified way of life that shuns the use of electricity, technology, and automobiles. And most of us would feel totally panicked or lost without any of these, especially our TVs, smart phones, ipads, and computers. We have come to rely on them nearly 24/7 for everything from talking with friends, to getting directions, finding a restaurant, or getting answers to trivia questions.
However, being constantly ‘plugged in’ to technology keeps our bodies on alert. Our environment has become one of constant input, filled with distractions and interruptions, making focus and concentration difficult. We tend to dis-connect from others, getting caught up in our own little world of games, shows, snap chats, etc. What all of this leads to is a bodily system that is constantly in a low-level stress response, anxious, unable to relax or get a good night’s sleep.
A great way to counter balance this is to observe an Amish Hour before bedtime. The idea is to shut down and put aside all electronics for one hour before going to bed. That means turning off the TV, iphone, ipad, and computer. Start your Amish Hour by writing out your to do list for the next day. This will free your mind from having to remember, allowing you to relax, and, by writing it down, help you take your focus off of your devices. For the rest of your Amish Hour choose what you would like to do – read a book and sip a cup of hot tea, play a game with your family, knit or start a project, cuddle with someone special, call a family member to re-connect, go for a walk or simply gaze at the stars, take a hot bath, write a note to encourage a friend, create a vision board, begin that novel you’ve always wanted to write, or…. Your choices can be as creative and varied as your imagination!
Start today! Implement your Amish Hour before going to bed in order to reduce your level of stress, increase your ability to relax, and start sleeping better at night. You might find by doing this for 5 times a week, that it also increases your productivity and focus during the day!
Happy sleeping!
Pamela & Brad