Do you know the feeling of waking up in the morning and still feeling tired and restless, even though you’ve had plenty of sleep? Despite knowing that this fatigue is unfounded, you find yourself constantly out of balance? Sometimes, this is a sign that something isn’t quite right internally. We often get used to feeling sluggish and exhausted in the morning. This internal imbalance and lack of motivation can be counteracted with a good sleep routine. Even if you sleep for a long time, that doesn't necessarily mean your sleep quality is optimal. If you improve your sleep quality to reach the optimal range for recovery, you won't need 9-10 hours of sleep.
The sleep routine that I’ve implemented to ensure my body gets optimal recovery is the 10-3-2-1-0 method.
The 10-3-2-1-0 rule can also help you enhance your REM and deep sleep phases, allowing for optimal recovery of both body and mind.
The 10-3-2-1-0 Rule
This method is easy to integrate into your daily life and offers tremendous benefits if followed consistently. Think of positive habits like watering a plant. If you add water (the good habit) regularly, the plant will grow and thrive. If you stop watering, the plant may survive for a while but will eventually wither. It’s the same with habits: if you don’t follow them for a day or two, you won’t lose the positive effects immediately, but old patterns will start to creep back in. On the flip side, consistency is the key to long-term success.
10 Hours Before Bed: No More Caffeine
Caffeine has a half-life of about six hours, meaning it takes up to twelve hours for your body to fully metabolize it. That's why it’s recommended to stop consuming caffeine at least 10 hours before going to bed. Initially, this might be difficult, but once your body gets used to it, you’ll notice positive effects. If you need an energy boost for your workout, there are alternatives to caffeine-based stimulants. If you do consume caffeine in the evening, valerian can help mitigate its effects as it targets the same receptors in the brain.
3 Hours Before Bed: No More Food
The digestion process can take a long time, and when your body is busy digesting food, it can’t fully focus on sleep. This makes it harder to reach the deep sleep phase. Therefore, not eating anything three hours before bed is ideal. If you still feel hungry, perhaps because you exercised late, have a light, easily digestible meal.
2 Hours Before Bed: No More Work
It’s essential for both your body and mind to prepare for sleep. If you work late into the evening, cortisol, the stress hormone, is released, keeping you awake. Working in front of screens is especially problematic because the blue light inhibits the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone. So, no work two hours before bed! :)
1 Hour Before Bed: Active Relaxation
Use the last hour before bed for active relaxation. Meditate, take a walk, or read a book. Write in a gratitude journal or diary. What you do in this hour sets the tone for your entire sleep and the start of your morning. Avoid social media and the news to keep your mind calm. Ideally, avoid screens altogether to allow your body to naturally produce melatonin.
0 Snoozing
Snoozing is the enemy of rest. Hitting the snooze button confuses your hormones and internal clock. Instead of releasing cortisol, the stress hormone, your body releases melatonin again, making you feel groggy and tired. Your body doesn’t know whether it should be sleeping or waking up. Avoid snoozing and get up at the first alarm.
Start incorporating these routines into your daily life step by step! Keep in mind that the effects won’t come overnight. Your body needs time to adjust and replenish its reserves. However, after a few days to one or two weeks, you’ll begin to notice the positive effects on your recovery and sleep quality. Using a fitness tracker to monitor your sleep phases can be very helpful. Observe how your sleep habits improve, and feel free to share your experiences in the comments.
Tip: I schedule these phases as daily reminders in my calendar. This way, I’m automatically reminded every day, making it easier to stick to the routine. I also love tracking how my sleep quality improves, not only as a statistic but by noticing the positive effects on my body as well.
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