When your calendar is jam packed and your to-do list is running onto the fifth page, sleep can feel like an irritating necessity. I can’t count how many times I’ve complained: “there aren’t enough hours in a day.”

While there are many health benefits to getting enough sleep, there’s a different type of benefit that I’ve been thinking on lately. By prioritizing sleep, in a way you are giving yourself permission to “do less” and let go. The world will not end if you turn off your phone (or at least ignore it) and rest for 8 hours.

Sleep is a way of giving up control over your world. Who knows what will happen while you are asleep. But your body needs sleep, so why not enjoy it and let your mind stop worrying. I find it helpful to jot down notes of anything I think of that I want to research or need to do the next day or week. Once I write it down, my brain can let go of that thought since it knows it’s being tracked elsewhere.

As much as we like our independence and for others to need us, earth would keep spinning even if we weren’t here.  Give yourself permission to sleep tonight. And just to sleep. Your to-do list can wait til tomorrow.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu