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How to rest well

psyche.co

11–20 of 116 posts

Re: How to rest well

#11
post #10
post #9

One of the strategies that changed my sleep quality for the better is to stop taking coffee after 9 AM; after learning that caffeine has a half-life of around 6-7 hours[0], but a quarter-life of around 12 hours. If you have a cup of coffee at noon, a quarter of that caffeine can still be circulating around your brain at midnight. [0] https://youtu.be/k5BMGmf1ai0

Pedantic HN style comment: doesn't half-life of 6 hours always imply "quarter-life" of 12 hours? :) (though I wouldn't have realized that without your comment, so thanks for that)

Depends on if it’s linear or a curve, right?

Re: How to rest well

#12
post #9

One of the strategies that changed my sleep quality for the better is to stop taking coffee after 9 AM; after learning that caffeine has a half-life of around 6-7 hours[0], but a quarter-life of around 12 hours. If you have a cup of coffee at noon, a quarter of that caffeine can still be circulating around your brain at midnight. [0] https://youtu.be/k5BMGmf1ai0

I only have decaff, rarely though, and only before 9AM as well. Otherwise I have green tea, and not after 1pm.

Re: How to rest well

#13

I've been doing "shallow rest" (think your typical mindless binge on anything) for whole my life and it has been difficult to convince myself or even find resources to become involved in resting, making it "deep rest" as mentioned in the article. Anyone has a good personal perspective on how to learn to do it?

Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL02HRFk2vo&

Yoga Nidra version https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=yoga+nidra+20+m...

try either, and see how you feel compared to your usual rest methods, gl

Re: How to rest well

#14

I've been doing "shallow rest" (think your typical mindless binge on anything) for whole my life and it has been difficult to convince myself or even find resources to become involved in resting, making it "deep rest" as mentioned in the article. Anyone has a good personal perspective on how to learn to do it?

Make it a goal for a specific day. Turn off all your devices, except for your phone (if you really have to be contactable or check something).

Re: How to rest well

#15
post #7

I've been doing "shallow rest" (think your typical mindless binge on anything) for whole my life and it has been difficult to convince myself or even find resources to become involved in resting, making it "deep rest" as mentioned in the article. Anyone has a good personal perspective on how to learn to do it?

I just go for walks without taking my phone with me. Works alright.

Same. But my brain is consistently thinking about stuff. I wonder if it's still rest?

Re: How to rest well

#16
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pedantic HN style comment: doesn't half-life of 6 hours always imply "quarter-life" of 12 hours? :) (though I wouldn't have realized that without your comment, so thanks for that)

Depends on if it’s linear or a curve, right?

Are there any examples of this? If its half-life is 6 hours, then after six hours half of the caffeine is still there, and we know caffeine has a half life of 6 hours. I don't know of any molecules with a non-linear half-life but I might be completely wrong

Re: How to rest well

#17
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just go for walks without taking my phone with me. Works alright.

Same. But my brain is consistently thinking about stuff. I wonder if it's still rest?

If you do not chase the thoughts or try to actively think it should stop sometimes and not think all the time.

If I understand the article correct then rest is not about “not thinking”. Rest can also be about engagement (for example sports or a making music). Just using different parts of your brain which are usually not directly used for work.

If it never stops thinking try meditation practice, it will help after a couple times already (for me at least).

Also sometimes it can be good to “reset” the brain by going into the wilderness or a retreat or have a day nap.

Re: How to rest well

#18
post #9

One of the strategies that changed my sleep quality for the better is to stop taking coffee after 9 AM; after learning that caffeine has a half-life of around 6-7 hours[0], but a quarter-life of around 12 hours. If you have a cup of coffee at noon, a quarter of that caffeine can still be circulating around your brain at midnight. [0] https://youtu.be/k5BMGmf1ai0

My non-sleep nights suddenly make sense, thanks!

Re: How to rest well

#19
post #12
post #9

One of the strategies that changed my sleep quality for the better is to stop taking coffee after 9 AM; after learning that caffeine has a half-life of around 6-7 hours[0], but a quarter-life of around 12 hours. If you have a cup of coffee at noon, a quarter of that caffeine can still be circulating around your brain at midnight. [0] https://youtu.be/k5BMGmf1ai0

I only have decaff, rarely though, and only before 9AM as well. Otherwise I have green tea, and not after 1pm.

I wonder why for coffee you have it decaff but you are happy with tea, that has more caffeine than coffee.
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