Do you follow strict guidelines like no eating or blue lights 3 hours before bedtime?

[Fountainbleu]

Osho said that eating within 3 hours before bedtime will lead to bad dreams and poor sleep. I mean that's pretty big. Also I remember a few years ago when top biohackers were talking about blue lights they recommended no blue lights 3 hours before bed (sometimes I kinda find myself stressing before bed because I feel I have nothing to do. Before I’d just sit in silence )

 

I also follow an Ayurveda diet which has helped me greatly, including my nervous system. Certain things like don't eat anything with tomatoes, onions, garlic or pepper (I'm Pitta dosha), or don’t eat cold foods (i.e: salads, i'm trying to lower Vata, as this can increase nervousness), walk for 5 minutes after a meal, or don't have sweets/fruit/dessert after eating salty food.

 

Another example: Taking a 15 minute walk outside in the sun within 1 hour after waking- if you're trying to balance your circadian rhythm or heal your sleeping (maybe you don't sleep well..). 

 

It can be a lot. It makes me feel a bit rigid sometimes and stressed thinking I need to think and do all these things. Do you adhere to strict guidelines that you know could significantly benefit you, and if not, why not, given their potential to improve your life?

 

Edited September 3 by Fountainbleu

[LastThursday]

I'm pretty regular with some of the things you mentioned. I wear blue blocking glasses in the evening, don't generally eat much after 6pm except maybe a biscuit or two, walk outdoors for 40 minutes or so for exercise and daylight.  I'm also regular with my sleep and I'm in bed by midnight most nights, and fall asleep fairly quickly.

I've kind of built those habits up over time as I've found out about the benefits of each one. It's all about not neglecting my body and giving it what it needs. I could do a lot more though. The top thing I did was give up smoking. I also don't drink much alcohol any more, probably about once a month. Going outdoors before midday is better for shifting your circadian rhythm earlier (if you're a night owl), which I never manage.

I don't particularly restrict my diet in any way, although I have intermittenly fasted in the past when I wanted to keep my weight under control (it was rough). But I could probably eat less processed foods and make more meals from scratch. Luckily I don't have a sweet tooth, so I don't increase my sugar load, except when I visit friends(!). I would just do the recommended and reduce refined carbs and sugar and salt and fat, and increase fibre and fruit, vegetables and nuts: I could improve on all of those. I also take omega-3 and vitamin D suplements, but there's some doubt over whether I should with omega-3 as I probably get enough from my diet. You should also not over do it with vitamin D suplements, I probably only need to take them over winter in the UK.

Overall I feel quite healthy and never get ill with colds or anything else.

The point is to make all these things habits and not beat yourself up if you occasionally stray from them. Build them up over time.

 

Edited September 3 by LastThursday

[Salvijus]

14 hours ago, Fountainbleu said:

It can be a lot. It makes me feel a bit rigid sometimes and stressed thinking I need to think and do all these things. Do you adhere to strict guidelines that you know could significantly benefit you, and if not, why not, given their potential to improve your life?

Some of the habits can greatly improve your life. When you experience the benefits of it you naturally want to stick to it because you understand the value of it. 

[Fountainbleu]

13 hours ago, Lila9 said:

That’s cool.  

You don’t have to follow someone else’s protocol or routine if it feels too rigid. Maybe going for a walk within one hour after waking is too much for you. Maybe gentle yoga or reading a book is more suitable for you when you wake up. Instead of going for a walk in the sun within one hour after waking, maybe decide to be exposed to the sun for at least 20 minutes every day. It can be at any part of the day. This way, you still get enough sun but not in a rigid way within a specific timeframe.  

I think the simpler your night and morning rituals are, the easier they are to follow. Especially in the beginning.

Especially if you are the type of person who struggles with routines. The more difficulty you have with routines, the more flexible and simple they need to be for you to successfully follow them. For example, decide on a few non-negotiable things, like stopping screen exposure 2 hours before sleep, not eating 2 hours before sleep, and getting at least 20 minutes of sun exposure during the day. Follow those rules only, while allowing yourself more flexibility in other areas.

Thank you! You are amazing!

[Fountainbleu]

5 hours ago, LastThursday said:

I'm pretty regular with some of the things you mentioned. I wear blue blocking glasses in the evening, don't generally eat much after 6pm except maybe a biscuit or two, walk outdoors for 40 minutes or so for exercise and daylight.  I'm also regular with my sleep and I'm in bed by midnight most nights, and fall asleep fairly quickly.

I've kind of built those habits up over time as I've found out about the benefits of each one. It's all about not neglecting my body and giving it what it needs. I could do a lot more though. The top thing I did was give up smoking. I also don't drink much alcohol any more, probably about once a month. Going outdoors before midday is better for shifting your circadian rhythm earlier (if you're a night owl), which I never manage.

I don't particularly restrict my diet in any way, although I have intermittenly fasted in the past when I wanted to keep my weight under control (it was rough). But I could probably eat less processed foods and make more meals from scratch. Luckily I don't have a sweet tooth, so I don't increase my sugar load, except when I visit friends(!). I would just do the recommended and reduce refined carbs and sugar and salt and fat, and increase fibre and fruit, vegetables and nuts: I could improve on all of those. I also take omega-3 and vitamin D suplements, but there's some doubt over whether I should with omega-3 as I probably get enough from my diet. You should also not over do it with vitamin D suplements, I probably only need to take them over winter in the UK.

Overall I feel quite healthy and never get ill with colds or anything else.

The point is to make all these things habits and not beat yourself up if you occasionally stray from them. Build them up over time.

 

thank you!

[Fountainbleu]

37 minutes ago, Salvijus said:

When you experience the benefits of it you naturally want to stick to it because you understand the value of it. 

For sure. It can still get overwhelming sometimes though with the amount of things! 

[Salvijus]

18 minutes ago, Fountainbleu said:

For sure. It can still get overwhelming sometimes though with the amount of things! 

Diciple helps in the beginning. To be rigid about everything. Until the wisdom becomes sufficient to do healthy things by sheer sense. The second stage is much better tho. 

[Ulax]

Its something I've tried in the past and will probably again in the future.

However, for now I'm working on the bigger factors regarding my sleep issues.

[Fountainbleu]

4 minutes ago, Salvijus said:

Diciple helps in the beginning. To be rigid about everything. Until the wisdom becomes sufficient to do healthy things by sheer sense. The second stage is much better tho. 

🙌 goals

Question is, how long must one be rigid for? 

[Fountainbleu]

7 minutes ago, Lila9 said:

You are ✨

 

[Salvijus]

18 minutes ago, Fountainbleu said:

🙌 goals

Question is, how long must one be rigid for? 

A little bit of discipline is probably healthy for the rest of the life on earth. 

"discipline is the highest form of self respect" 

[Fountainbleu]

21 minutes ago, Ulax said:

Its something I've tried in the past and will probably again in the future.

However, for now I'm working on the bigger factors regarding my sleep issues.

I recently started working on my gut health again. There’s a strong link between the gut, the brain and mental health (for me especially sleep and relaxation). I notice on the days I drink a powerful Kefir blend I sleep like a baby and feel calm almost immediately, the next day too. I started drinking this unpasteurized organic goat milk Kefir 🙌

[Joshe]

After 3 or 6 months of success, I often lose touch with my why. I find environment design just as important as mindset. 
https://i.imgur.com/zN29Bgp.png

Edited September 4 by Joshe

[Fountainbleu]

5 hours ago, Joshe said:

After 3 or 6 months of success, I often lose touch with my why. I find environment design just as important as mindset. 
https://i.imgur.com/zN29Bgp.png

hmm interesting, thanks for sharing. I'm not sure environment design has such a large impact on me. I have several reminders written on my desk, and my yoga mat laid on my bedroom floor but I haven't attended to them for a while now. I'm going to feel into this some more.

Edited September 5 by Fountainbleu