Needing Less Sleep

[SheilaB]

I've always loved my sleep, and given that I have a 4-yr old who can survive on very little - usually I'm keen to grab any opportunity for a little extra top-up.

But I've noticed recently that I seem to need less sleep. I have heard people mention that doing lots of meditation can have this effect. I wouldn't say I'm at it for hours each day (I usually do somewhere between 30 mins to an hour sitting practice daily).

Just curious if anyone else has found this after their practice has been established for a while?

When I first read Jon Kabat-Zinn talking about getting up really early to practice in his mindful parenting book, I thought it seemed a little unrealistic. But now I'm wondering if it was the depth if his practice that enabled him to do that?

Sheila

[JonW]

Hi Sheila,
I'm the opposite.
Since taking up meditation, I've gone from 7 hrs a night to 9 hours on average.
That said, I woke up yesterday deep in the Austrian Alps after 5 hours sleep and felt entirely mindful being driven through the early morning snow to the airport.
It was all a meditation.
Jon

[Fractalshift]

I am finding that my sleep patterns are heavily influenced by the seasons. Before meditation became a part of my life I suffered from SADDs. Now I find I just sleep more in winter time and less in the summer. The mind is a funny thing.

[Gareth]

It's hard for me to judge really because I have MS, with it's varying fatigue patterns.

I feel like I manage to get a lot done, given all the demands on my energy; I'm certain that meditation is the reason for this.

"Driving through the snow to the airport as your meditation."

This certainly resonates with me. As my practice has deepened, I have found that life has become the meditation, rather than meditation just being a part of my life.

[JonW]

"As me practice has deepened, I have found that life has become the meditation, rather than meditation just being a part of my life."

Amen to that. Brilliantly put.
Jon

[SheilaB]

I love that about life becoming the meditation. Yes indeed - there becomes less and less separation between 'formal' and 'informal' practice. I usually explain sitting meditation as practice (literally) for everyday life.

My quality of sleep has definitely improved, which I know is common for mindfulness practitioners, so maybe that's contributing to why I feel I need less of it.

Nice to swap notes guys