With constant running around between practice and classes, odds are that your sleep is at the bottom of your list of priorities. But here is the truth, as important as cross-training and consistent practice are, sleep is just as important. Your body needs rest and sleep so your muscles can recover and get stronger. Your mind also needs rest for memorizing choreography.
How do you convince yourself to prioritize sleep? It’s not always easy. Let’s romanticize rest instead of seeing it as a waste of time.
Create a Nighttime Routine that you Love
Like pre-competition rituals or the things you do to prepare for a test, create a nighttime routine that helps you to wind down and get in the right headspace. Light your favorite candle, put on some comfy pajamas, make a cup of tea, and journal before you get into bed. You could also listen to low tempo music or watch a comfort show. The goal is relaxation. Once your brain starts to adapt and get used to the same routine every night, it will recognize these cues to wind down for the night.
Make Your Bed a Cozy Place
Your bed should feel like a safe and cozy place that you can’t wait to jump into at the end of the night. Think fluffy blankets, cute and cozy pillowcases, and fairy lights that you can place on your ceiling or headboard. The cozier and more personal your bed feels, the more relaxing and inviting it is going to feel after a long day.
Put Your Phone Away
We’ve all been awake at 2 AM, doomscrolling TikTok or Instagram out of boredom. You might think, “Just until I’m tired enough to sleep.” However, this actually does the opposite of helping you fall asleep. The stimulation and blue light encourage your brain to stay awake longer than you mean to. Try putting your phone on “Do Not Disturb” when you get into bed. Replace the doom scrolling with something more calming, such as music or reading a book, screen-free.
Romanticize Rest
Reframe how you view sleep so instead of viewing it as just something boring to do, view it as a way to recover and get stronger for your dancing. While you are sleeping your muscles are recovering from a long day of dance, and your mind is resetting after classes. It is all about your mindset and how you can make it something that you look forward to at the end of the day. So find what things make it exciting for you, and go with it!
