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200 words, dream, energy, exercise, food, happy, health, immune system, life, Necessities of Life, sleep
Curl up with your pillows and your blankie. Close your eyes and dream so soft and hazy. – Pooh
When Michaela was little, I read Winnie the Pooh stories to her before bed. Sometimes she’d fall asleep while I read.
And when she slept she looked so angelic.
Sleep is important for all ages. So much happens while we sleep.
Sleeping promotes a healthy immune system.
Tissue growth and repair occur.
And levels of the hormone cortisol dip at bed time and promote alertness in the morning.
Years ago when I decided to embrace a healthier life-style, I found eating right and exercise alone made little difference in my efforts to get fit. It wasn’t until I made up my mind to get a good eight hours of sleep each night, that I began to see results.
One-third of our lives are spent sleeping, and sleep plays a direct role in how successful the other two-thirds of our lives can be.
So curl up with your pillows and your blankie. Close your eyes and dream so soft and hazy.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
Do you get enough sleep? How did Daylight Savings Time affect your sleep last night?
talktodiana 
What wonderful advice! I agree wholeheartedly… Unfortunately, the boss at my new job does not agree. 😉 I’m SOOOO tired lately! Thanks for another awesome post! ❤
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Your boss sounds like a meanie Rachel 😦 Hope you get a good night’s sleep soon. ❤
Diana xo
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It was the best time, tucking the children into bed when they were little.
The years went by so quickly.
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Looking back, the years do fly Elizabeth! ❤
Diana xo
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Just counting on my fingers now, Diana, and I rarely get even 7 hours of sleep. No wonder I’m so worn out by day’s end. I’ll try to improve on that – especially since you say a good 8 hours helps one lose weight. On the weekends, I take a nap. But I probably shouldn’t be napping for 2 hours. 😉
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It worked for me Judy. I was stumped because I’d been doing ‘all the right things,’ and the weight didn’t budge, until I read how important sleep is and adjusted my life to allow for 8 hours sleep.
And don’t believe that ‘but I lose 3 hours of productive time,’ because you actually get stuff done in less time when you’re well rested. 😀 That’s my experience anyway…
Diana xo
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Sleep is definitely an important factor in good health. I am lucky to say I slept very well. Perhaps all of our travels and time zone changes have trained me so that the change to DST is noticeable.
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Very fortunate for you Sue, like me, you must be grateful for that! ❤
Diana xo
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Sleep and I seem to be in constant battle. Insomnia is not my friend. But I keep trying! Daylight savings time…UGH!
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UGH indeed! I hope your insomnia takes a hike and you get the rest you so need and deserve. ❤
Diana xo
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Diana, you are spot on with this one. Good sleep hygiene is often overlooked by the best of us. I’m still working on it, having a strong tendency to be a night owl.
Jennifer xo
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I can relate to the night owl thing Jennifer! I had to stop doing that and go to bed early enough to give the allotted time for sleep. ❤
Diana xo
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I didn’t sleep at all last night. 😦 Hopefully today will be better.
2 years ago, we had a speaker at work, talk about importance of sleep. Apparently sleeping enough hrs. ie. 5-7 hrs. helps stabilize a person’s weight, even lose a few lbs./kgs.
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Jean12 years ago, I gained a significant amount of weight, chalk it up to mid life, hormonal changes, or whatever.
I changed my eating and exercise and nothing. Nothing until I stopped my night owl ways and went to bed early enough to allow for the right amount of sleep before I had to get up for work.
Almost immediately, the weight started dropping off until I got down to the right weight for my body! So I can personally attest to that theory! ❤
Diana xo
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Wow. 🙂
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I know, eh?
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Daylight savings comes to an end here next month, I have no problem adjusting to daylight savings
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Lucky you Jo-Anne! I have no problem when we gain an hour, but when we lose an hour… yuck! ❤
Diana xo
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The time change has never bothered me. I have always awakened in the dark, early morning hours. I think it might be the farmer in my gene pool. Mornings are the most productive time for me. I work best on about 7 hours a night. So far, so good. ☺ Van
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Do you still live on a farm Van? Mornings are my most creative time. I save afternoons for editing, and thinking stuff like analyzing and evaluating, working out the steps to take toward that creative visionary stuff I did in the morning, etc. ❤
Diana xo
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No, Diana, grew up in the suburbs. The farm life ended in my Dad’s childhood, lost in the Depression.
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But the values of farm life persisted!
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I internalized so many of their ethics and attitudes. I felt as a child that I had lived through the great Depression myself. I was especially close to my grandmother, a true survivor. Thanks, Diana.
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If I could sleep eight hours a night, sign up up for the decathlon, Diana. ❤
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Oh my, I do sleep 8, but I’m pretty sure I’m not up for the decathlon! How many hours do you sleep Mark?
Diana xo
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I sleep six hours per, Diana, seven to luxuriate. The norm is up until 1 a.m.WP’ing it and roused at 7 a.m. by Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle.
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Well now I understand how you get so many posts out Mark! And also writing for others – I was just thinking about how dedicated you are to writing the other day.
Do you feel tired after 6 hours of sleep?
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Well, remember that writing is my job, Diana, and that includes my how I view WordPress.
But. to jump to the conclusion, yes, six hours leaves me a bit peaked. Seven feels right.
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Well I hope you find a way to get seven then. 🙂
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I’ll try, Diana. 🙂
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I think I must have been a bear in another life! I love sleep. When I don’t have enough I dont function well. It is a gift to sleep well and I know so many people have trouble. The body is an amazing machine as you have noted. Sleep well Diana 🙂
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Thank you Karen, you too. ❤
Diana xo
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Diana, thanks for the sleep info and tips. I slept well, even with one less hour of sleep last night.
There is one other benefit from sleep: It can keep one from getting into trouble for a few hours.
Nighty night!
-Alan
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haha, maybe that’s why kids look so angelic to their parents when they sleep Alan! ❤
Diana xo
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Diana, the ideal for me is 7 hours, with an occasional 8 to make up for the god-awful 4s and 5s that sometimes plague me. I’m useless then. The brain needs to rest, especially older ones like mine! There’s plenty of research to support that, thank goodness!
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Isn’t it funny how we need research to support what we know we need sometimes Jim? I catch myself doing that all the time, as if it validates me or something! ❤
Diana xo
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Diana love the puppy picture. When you have a child who can’t sleep due to anxiety you don’t sleep either. When we do get sleep everything else seems so much easier. So sleep in our family is a golden moment.
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Aww So sorry your little one experiences anxiety. ❤
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Strangely enough, I slept all right. Did not turn off the light until 3ish (new time) for some reason though, I was awake and conscious at 9:00, even though I did not have to be at rehearsal until 11. Used that time to take a long shower, and get an egg sandwich at a coffee shop on my way (and I was 5-7 minutes early today too, I usually come in just on the dot). Still no inclination to do my work, but I guess that’s what tonight will be for.
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Do you usually wake up 9? Glad you weren’t running late – I’m a stickler for promptness, so when I’m running late, it kinda ruins my whole day. Guess I need to learn to forgive myself, huh? ❤
Diana xo
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I just get mad at myself when I am late especially if it was preventable. I don’t have a normal wake up time, but I aim for 8 MWF. The other four days are whenever unless I have something specific to do.
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I hear you! Sounds like you have a regular flow going for you.
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I can get by fine on five hours, but I can tell a difference if I make a point of trying to get eight. On the other hand, I get less done sleeping through those three hours. I always kinda liked the idea of, “I’ll get plenty of sleep when I’m dead.” 😀
I’d forgotten all about going back to daylight savings! Thanks for the reminder!
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haha you’re welcome Smitty! And here’s something to chew on:
When I’m well rested and taking care of myself I can complete a task in 45 minutes as opposed to 2 hours or more, if I’m tired – and probably do a better job of it, rested, ta boot!. 😀
Diana xo
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Good point!
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One that is very true of me. 😀
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I love sleep and also make a point of getting enough, it does feel good!
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You are one of the lucky ones Ute! ❤
Diana xo
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Oh to sleep that well! I love my sleep and would gladly sleep that well, if sleeping that well wouldn’t elude me. 🙂
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I wish and hope it for you Colleen! ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you Diana! 🙂
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Thanks. I needed that.
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You are most welcome Don! ❤
Diana xo
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I’m also one of those, scrape by on minimal sleep people. My father was too. I’m not tired, I just manage well on 6.5 hours a night — and then every so often, I take a day to simply r’n’r and sleep and read and curl up with my blankie! 🙂
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As long as you’re not tired!!
I have a friend who says he’s fine on 4.5. I would be so tired!
I need at least 7 hours as a general rule Louise. If I sleep more than 8 though, it’s not good either, I’m groggy and dopey and usually end up going to bed early that night. ❤
Diana xo
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I most certainly don’t get enough sleep. Can often be getting by on 3-4 hours during the week, occasionally weekends are better but not by much. I’ve tried everything from diet, exercise and even medication but nothing seems to help. I function but am constantly exhausted…
An area of life I know I need to improve.xx
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Oh Laura, I feel for you. A good night’s sleep makes all the difference to me.
I know that when I’m stressed or anxious about something, it can rob me of sleep and not enough sleep makes everything seem worse. In the same vein, enough sleep makes everything seem better, or at least more manageable. ❤
Diana xo
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I am just about to go to bed so this is the most perfect timing, Diana. Thank you for your blog, your friendship, your support and humour.
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Ditto my friend! Sleep well Julie! ❤
Diana xo
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