How are you sleeping?
Sleep quality is often the first thing to go during a PhD; sacrificed because of late-night writing marathons in the desire to get ahead with the work. Yet, research tells us that sleep isn’t wasted time but a vital phase where the brain consolidates ideas, strengthens connections, and clears out any cognitive clutter. Skimping on sleep might buy you a few more hours today, but you may well pay the price in terms of lack of clarity and creative thought in the long term. I love the question that Tricia Hershey (founder of The Nap Ministry) asks “How would it be if I turned up fully rested?” Imagine the quality of work that you will be able to produce and the energy you will have if you have given yourself the opportunity to recharge and recalibrate through sleep.
There’s also something in the metaphor of “sleeping on it.” Many of our best insights come not through conscious effort but through allowing the subconscious mind to generate connections and offer up insights. In that sense sleep can be a collaborator in the research process as you weave together data and theories while you rest. As Robert Romanyshyn in his book ‘The Wounded Researcher’ reminds us – dreams can be powerful and rich research material which serve to develop and deepen our understanding of the work.
This month in the Northern Hemisphere we move towards the dark days of winter where animals enter into the process of hibernation; my invitation to you is to embrace rest and sleep as part of your research process rather than seeing it as an interruption to it. To support this experiment, this month’s PhD Book Club will be exploring Matthew Walker’s book ‘Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams’. We will be meeting on Thursday 20th November and if you would like to join us you can save your seat here.
Also a gentle reminder that our Neurodivergent Scholar’s Network meeting is happening on Wednesday 12th November – joining information is here
Next month you are also very welcome to come to a webinar that I am hosting on ‘Productive Habits for PhD Researchers’ which is happening on Monday 8th December at 2.15pm (a replay will be available for those who cannot make it live). You can sign up here.
Wishing you a restful and dream-filled month!
Emma