Keep a strict schedule = good quality of sleep

I am the type who loves schedules. I keep a very strict and packed routine. And excuse the bragging rights, but I also do have excellent and uneventful 8-9 hours of sleep a day with frequent wonderful dreams. I only have nightmares when I eat too much or work too much. I knew in a way that keeping a strict schedule helps me sleep better. And according to recent studies, they absolutely are! According to Natalie Dautovich who led the study at the University of Alabama, maintaining a consistent daily routine may be linked to better sleep. Those who perform daily activities on time have more chances of achieving the much needed heavenly sleep. (indianexpress.com)

I've had my taste of crazy and youthful schedule when I welcome multiple overtimes at the office, attend social dinners and look for night caps. There were no strict schedules to speak of. I slept when able, woke up late in the mornings and ultimately felt shitty. And not to mention those couple of years of graveyard shifts. What was I thinking?!! I was completely miserable!

For the past few years, I've maintained a habit of maintaining a strict schedule. I don't stay late when I don't need to and when I say I need to...it's more of like a state of emergency.

Personal definition of emergency: I need to attend an important telepresence call or meeting that I couldn't absolutely get out of  it's a matter of losing my job or my sleep). A real friend in dire need of consoling over 1-2 cocktails over a heart break, work frustration and anything life altering. I need to attend a very important event to support friends and family that the absence of my presence will result to loss of morale, love and understanding.

Random and spontaneous dinner and drinks with friends just because is not an emergency. Random dates just because you miss each other is not an emergency. Movie premieres is not an emergency. Late work that can absolutely be done and postponed tomorrow, not an emergency. A lot of these can be done with proper planning involved.

As my schedule goes:

Leave the office  at    4 pm
Arrive home  at 5 pm
Play with dogs, spend time with family/boyfriend/friends and occasional errands at  5- 7 pm
Eat dinner and relax at 7- 8 pm
Read and do whatever at 8: - 9:30 pm

I usually fall asleep at 9:30 pm, the latest at 10:30 pm. I naturally and automatically wake up at 5 am, with no alarms and no ill feeling, only absolutely refreshed, energized and out to rule the world! I go to work at 6 am and the cycle continues. Of course there are variations in some days. I attend dinners, I extend work hours and do important errands. I'll end up cranky if I'm not at home at 9 pm, but I'd just have to sacrifice some other tasks. The most important thing is that I have a conscious effort to asleep before 11 pm.

I also noticed that given this regimen and continuous quality of sleep, even when I do stay up late, past 11 pm or even at 12 - 1 am, I still wake up relatively early at around 6 am still feeling refreshed. I believe overall, my quality of sleep has improved over the years. With occasional wine and milk here and there, I am one of those lucky ones who enjoy effortless and excellent sleep. Not to mention, waking up very early in the day is a plus for me since I am a morning person. I feel I get to do tons of stuff making me lead a very productive and stress-free life.

Call it a relatively natural turn of body dynamics, "older age" or maturity but having good sleep is one of the best things you can do for your body.