Get plenty of sleep...

and stretch when you rise

“Sleeping dogs teach us the art of letting go. They don’t hold onto grudges or carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.” ~ Unknown

Have you ever noticed that dogs can sleep pretty much anywhere, anytime? That’s because we don’t worry about things that we can’t control. We don’t hold grudges – in fact, we’re quick to forgive. We also know the value of sleep.

Humans tend to sacrifice sleep for other things that they think are important, or have trouble sleeping when they can’t turn off their minds. But, sleep is one of the most important factors for wellbeing. A human needs anywhere from seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night to keep their bodies and minds healthy.

Ella

I loved heading to my bed when the day was over. I would snore the night away, and stretch upon waking in the morning. My slumber gave me the energy that I needed to do all of my favorite things during the day. After a play session, it’s important to take a nap (especially for youngsters). Sometimes when you’re trying to work something out or solve a problem, a nap is the best thing you can do. I like to say “when in doubt, take a nap!”

The body needs rest for recovery, so it’s especially important to get plenty of sleep when you’re not feeling well, or are healing from an injury. Sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being, and your overall health. Sleep allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up.

Sometimes mom would work even when she had a bad cold. Then she wondered why that cold held on for weeks at a time. I could have told her that it was because she wasn’t getting enough rest to help her immune system fight off the virus. She thought that she could keep working, since she could do it from home, when she should have called out sick to take care of herself. What she really needed to do was stop doing, and get some sleep!

There’s not much that cats do better than dogs, but I have to hand it to them, they really value their sleep. Kali and Mateo slept even more than I did during the day. Napping is one of Kali’s favorite pastimes, and she particularly liked curling up underneath a blanket on the couch and staying there for hours at a time. I suppose they probably got up earlier than me, but I’m sure they spent more hours sleeping than anyone else in the house.

Speaking of things that are good for you – stretching is also important. I enjoyed doing my neck stretches while sitting in the lawn chair in the backyard. I would lift my muzzle up towards the sky, and work any kinks out of my neck. I did plenty of what mom calls “downward dog pose” to stretch my spine and keep my back healthy and limber.

Mala (and Tessie)

Like Ella, we value our sleep. We let mom and dad know when it’s time to go to bed. We like to get up around 6:00 a.m. to eat our breakfast and go outside, but then are perfectly happy to go back to sleep for a while, especially in the winter when it’s still dark outside. The cats usually come into the bedroom in the morning too, and all of us enjoy the king-sized bed that mom and dad think belongs to them. In reality, that bed is for the whole family.

Mom says that I’m the best at the yoga poses downward facing dog and upward facing dog. They are great stretches, so I do them every time I stand up from laying down, or when I see mom pull out her yoga mat. I taught Tessie how to do them too, but she has a hard time with upward facing dog on the hardwood floors when her feet slide a bit further than she wants. If she’s on the bed or a rug, she’ll do both poses. We both have a pretty great sphinx pose, too. Mateo is the king of twists – as a cat, he has a super flexible spine.

Take a moment to consider what impacts your sleep, or keeps you from getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. Make sleep a priority by setting a reminder at the time you need to head to bed in order to get enough hours before you have to be up in the morning. Better yet, get a dog. We always let mom and dad know when it’s time for our night-time routine of going outside, having a treat, and then climbing into bed. Ella would go to bed without them if they weren’t listening, but we stay up with them and keep giving gentle reminders of the time.

Notice how much better you feel throughout the day after getting a decent night’s sleep. If you experience that afternoon slump, settle in for a short (15 to 20 minute) nap. And, don’t forget to stretch when you get up. Your body will thank you.