Everyone knows that sleeping well helps your brain be more successful if you are a student or work in an academic capacity or one that requires mental alertness. It even says in the Gemora that teachers of children are responsible to get enough sleep so they can have patience to teach their charges the next morning.
But in an article by Rabbi Shmarya Katzen a”h in the N’shei Chabad Newsletter, it was interesting to me that the Rebbe advised Rabbi Katzen when he complained about having insomnia to learn his daily portion of Chitas, in addition to saying the shema prayer carefully at bedtime. The Chitas part intrigued me because that means that besides for spiritual benefits to the soul-- learning a certain amount and being spirituallyfulfilled and thus having an easier time falling asleep, I'm assuming it’s also a physical process. When the brain works, it gets tired out, and will be able to rest peacefully at bedtime. (The author of the article added that since taking that advice he has slept soundly for the next 54 years.)
I googled that concept, and indeed it comes up in sleep coaching. (I vaguely knew there was such a thing as a sleep coach, but I got reminded. How fascinating!) One such coach whom I don't know personally but who came up in my search is Martin Reed. He writes that just like being physically active helps the body sleep better, so does being mentally active. Just as one could be a sedentary couch-potato, one could be a mental couch-potato. That can make it hard to sleep at night. Your brain needs to exercise hard and will then naturally crave to rest at night.
He then goes on to give advice and ideas on how to stimulate your brain. Making a small change in your regular routine--such as finding a different parking spot, switching the order of your chores, listening to different music than you are used to, and talking to new people. At bedtime he says to make sure to stick to your routine— because at that time you need winding down, not stimulation.
Those are all good ideas, though I'm sure you can think of more.
But actually going to lectures, taking a course, getting a study partner to learn with you a subject of your choice, learning the daily chitas, etc., etc., really busies and exercises your brain. It sets you up for a more fulfilling day and a more restful night.
I love win-win situations, don’t you?
P.S. To help you in your next course or class or study partnership, try taking my Brain Nourishing Herbal Tonic. It slowly feeds and nourishes and stimulates your brain cells. I definitely need it now that I'm taking a new course. Maybe it can help you too!
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