“There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.” -Homer, The Odyssey
I suffer from sleep apnea. What that means is that my airway is frequently obstructed while I sleep.
I stop breathing.
I snore.
I wake up tired.
This condition has actually taught me the value of sleep. I know the difference between a good night of rest and a restless night. I feel the difference physically, mentally, and emotionally. Left untreated, this condition is hazardous to my well-being.
I’ve done sleep studies where I have been hooked up to wires, cords, and monitors. The studies have been helpful – they are pretty informative, but they are not convenient (or affordable enough to have done frequently). And, to be honest, having wires or things attached to your body is not comfortable.
I’m always looking for tips and tools to help me make the most of my time asleep, so that’s why when I heard about the Beautyrest Sleeptracker monitor I jumped at the opportunity to support their campaign. The monitor is non-invasive (it’s not a wearable) and it plugs directly into the wall, so there’s no need to charge it. The monitor provides personalized insights into my sleep and how my habits during the course of the day may affect the quality of my sleep.
I have found that routines are important to getting quality sleep. Using the feedback from the monitor, I am able to adjust my bedtime routine to help optimize my rest and get the best night’s sleep I possibly can.
To be clear, the monitor does not treat my apnea, but I am finding it to be a valuable tool to gauge my quality of sleep. In the past, I’ve had no real way of doing this other than how I felt. The monitor has many features including:
- monitors respiration rate, and heart rate, and motion
- provides a minute-by-minute snapshot of the journey through each sleep cycle: light sleep, deep sleep and REM sleep
- offers sleep reports that detail monthly trends and report long-term patterns and insights
- features a Sleep Cycle Alarm for optimal wake up
Imagine going on a road trip with your tank running on fumes. That’s what the day feels like after a night of no, or little, rest. As I mentioned earlier, that lack of restoration affects everything- physically, emotionally, and mentally. As a husband, father, and teacher, I need to be at the top of my game each day.
I can remember as a kid thinking that if I slept, I was going to be missing out on life. Perhaps what Homer should have said was “There MUST also be a time for sleep.” As an adult, I now realize that when I miss out on sleep, I am missing out on life- the quality of it. So if you ask me what #ISleepto achieve? Well, #ISleepto achieve quality, restoration, and strength.
I have partnered with Life of Dad and Beautyrest for this campaign, but my opinions are my own.