I believe that staying out of the dumps is a moral imperative. How can you excel and be your best when you are in despair? How can you focus? Care about others? Love to the fullest?
Here are two ways to beat the blues.
Second Sleep
Beating the blues involves not just getting enough sleep, but getting the right sleep.
Science and history are now telling us that seven to eight hours of continuous sleep may not be the norm. Our ancestors thought it perfectly refreshing to wake up for a period in the middle of the night, segmenting slumber into first and second sleep.
Apparently, throughout history the period in between sleeps was used for pleasant activities like undemanding chores, contemplation, meditation, visiting with neighbors, and sex.
After a period of wakefulness of up to two hours, fatigue returned and so does sleep.
For me it's that second sleep that dictates mood for the rest of the day. Give me my second sleep and I'm beaming.
Managing Second Sleep
First, take comfort in the knowledge that waking up in the middle of the night may be perfectly natural for you. Science is discovering that people from all over the world have been doing it for ages and still do it in places where electricity does not extend the day.
Knowing that you are experiencing a natural process can eliminate a lot of stress. You don't have to lie in your bed thinking, "OMG! I've got to sleep!"
Second, turn off the lights and go to bed earlier. Turning off the lights helps reinforce naturally circadian rhythms. Doing it early gives you enough time to get enough sleep in two segments with a wakeful break in between. Here are some suggestions for falling asleep.
Third. Plan what you are going to do during your period of wakefulness. Think of this as self-time and use if for something that you enjoy.
Get off your ass
Yep. The second sure-fire ways to beat the blues is exercise. A period of exercise can beat the blues quicker than anything I know. I've done it time and time again.
Many studies have also shown exercise to be a major blues buster. Some say that exercise is better than any known mood enhancer on the market. I'm a believer.
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