It was the Night before Christmas…

How do you react when you hear those familiar opening lines, “It was the night before Christmas and all through the house…?” Does it make you burst into laughter because in your family, whether it’s a function of kids’ ages, schoolwork procrastination, sleep struggles that come with neurodiversity, or a little bit of everything, the next line “not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse,” is so ridiculously untrue? Like, “whose house was this writer in, anyway?!?!?”


It definitely cracks me up. We all have sleep struggles in my house, and just when one problem is solved, another starts. That’s why I believe ‘TIS the season – especially with the rise in colds, flus, viruses, and all the other delightful gifts that the Holidays bring – to have a chat about SLEEP!


And, in the spirit of Yellow Parachute and Quantum Jump, let’s relate sleep to Executive Function Skills in 5 Steps

  1. Let’s start with the brain. Imagine your brain as a powerful muscle that flexes to help you conquer the challenges of everyday life. We’ve used this metaphor before, right? Lifting weights, starting with light weights and getting heavier, hard work is good, you remember the idea. Well, guess what? Just like the way you sleep directly impacts your body’s physical strength and endurance, it also impacts the mental ability and efficiency of your brain’s flex to successfully navigate your day.
  2. As you know, Executive Function is the (not so) secret weapon behind your success in everything you do each day. Executive Function involves planning, focusing, remembering, and juggling multiple tasks like a pro. But here’s the catch: a consistent sleep schedule and enough Zzz’s are crucial to fueling executive function’s ability to help you shine.
  3. Picture this: With a well-rested brain, you can plan your day like a strategist. You can practice staying laser-focused on important tasks, recalling crucial information, and handling various responsibilities at once. You can regulate your emotions if something doesn’t go as planned, find creative solutions, and listen to peers and colleagues to understand their points of view.
  4. The alternative? Have you ever felt like you stumbled through the day, not really accomplishing anything but somehow managing to simply “get through it”? Maybe you felt extra irritable or hungry. Maybe you didn’t feel like talking to anyone, it was hard to focus in class, or you just wanted to curl up in a ball because your head hurt. Looking back on the night before, you can probably recall that you didn’t sleep well.
  5. In fact, though sleep is important for humans who have executive function gaps or difficulties, it is important for ALL brains to function at their best. The fact that sleep is important for ALL brains makes it a powerful and effective tool for students, teachers, parents, and all kinds of leaders across the country to focus on prioritizing!


Rest vs. RESTLESSNESS

Have you ever found yourself lying in bed, unable to fall asleep, and feeling overwhelmed by the passing time? It’s a common experience we can all relate to. The stress and powerlessness we feel in those moments only make it harder to drift off into slumber. However, sleep expert Dr. Chris Winter suggests that if we shift our focus from sleep to resting, we regain control of the situation.

Embracing Rest for Better Sleep

Dr. Winter emphasizes that while sleep may not always be under our control, rest certainly is. He explains that anyone can close their eyes and rest for 10 minutes, regardless of their mental state. The efficacy of this rest period may vary, but the key takeaway is that you are still prioritizing self-care and giving your body and mind the opportunity to rejuvenate.
Winter suggests that by allowing our bodies to enter a state of relaxation, we open the door to a potential gateway for healthy sleep. Think of it as “practicing for sleep,” to shift your attention from the stress of falling asleep to what you can do. Even if you only manage to rest for a few hours, it can still greatly benefit your overall well-being and increase the likelihood of eventually falling asleep.

A Way to Practice Rest and Reclaim Sleep: NSDR

If you’re running low on sleep and the brain fog is starting to creep in, NSDR might be a fantastic way for you to recover. By engaging in Non Sleep Deep Rest, you give yourself the opportunity- even 10-15 minutes – to disconnect from the demands of everyday life and enter a state of deep relaxation.


NSDR, also known as Non-Sleep Deep Rest, was coined by neuroscientist and researcher Andrew Huberman. It’s essentially a modern term for an age-old practice called Yoga Nidra, which means yogic sleep in Sanskrit.

Non-Sleep Deep Rest is a restorative practice that helps reduce anxiety and provides healing benefits for the body and mind. It is a way to relax and rejuvenate without actually going to sleep. During Non Sleep Deep Rest, you enter a relaxed state where your body and mind can unwind and recharge. This practice has been shown to have positive effects on your brain by promoting deep relaxation, reducing stress levels, and improving overall well-being.

This practice allows your body to heal and regenerate, both physically and mentally. Remember your mind and body muscles? Even better, practicing NSDR has been shown to increase the body’s ability to unwind at night, easing sleep struggles for ADHDers and others who share that often times, “their brains are doing pushups while their bodies are trying to rest.”


Why is NSDR Different from Yoga or Meditation?

NSDR can be appealing to individuals who struggle with quieting their minds during meditation or find it challenging to engage in traditional yoga practices. NSDR provides an alternative approach to deep relaxation by incorporating techniques such as yoga nidra and hypnosis, which guide individuals through a structured meditation or hypnotic state.

To practice NSDR on their own, individuals can use guided resources such as NSDR podcasts or deep relaxation videos. These resources provide step-by-step instructions, allowing individuals to follow along and experience the benefits of NSDR without the need for prior experience or expertise.

The practice of NSDR offers 3 key benefits to the brain:

  1. It can aid in promoting neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. By engaging in NSDR, individuals stimulate the brain’s plasticity and create pathways that support learning, memory, and cognitive flexibility.
  2. Furthermore, NSDR has shown effectiveness in reducing anxiety and calming emotional stress. The deep rest achieved through NSDR helps activate the body’s relaxation response, leading to a decrease in stress hormones and a sense of calmness.It allows individuals to develop greater resilience to stress and enhances emotional regulation.
  3. In terms of ADHD and focus, NSDR has demonstrated positive effects.
    • The practice promotes a state of calm and high focus, making it beneficial for individuals with ADHD who often struggle with attention and concentration.
    • NSDR helps train the mind to achieve a relaxed and focused state, improving cognitive performance and reducing distractions.

Overall, NSDR offers an accessible and effective way for individuals to achieve deep relaxation, improve brain function, reduce anxiety, and enhance focus and attention, AND prepare their bodies to better rest at night.

Here’s a link to my favorite Yoga Nidra Podcast, “Yoga Nidra and Beyond,” hosted by Ayla Nova. Nova provides her episodes at no cost and offers a beautiful variety of lengths, subjects, and educational podcasts about the practice.

Please comment if you use Ayla Nova’s podcast or try NSDR. I have been using this practice for about 9 months now and notice remarkable differences in my ability to regulate my emotions, renew my mind during the day, and fall asleep at night.

How amazing would it be for a classroom of student to take a 15 minute Yoga Nidra break on yoga mats, once or even twice a day, throughout the day?

Contact us if you want to start a study, and let’s work to make it happen!

Yours on the journey,
Cara
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