5 Comments
User's avatar
Darren Hemmings's avatar

I recently quit booze and also started avoiding devices (phone and laptop, basically) for the first and last hour's of the day - though usually slightly more in the evening. The impact on my sleep quality has been genuinely quite alarming: a HUGE shift, wherein I'm sleeping 100x better than I was.

I have ADHD so much of this was done in the context of that - i.e. avoiding feeding that dopamine cycle by constantly finding stimulus and cognitive load - but I think it would be just as applicable to anyone else, ADHD or not.

The advice I had was to try and treat the day like a bell curve in terms of stimulus. Hence avoiding the devices first thing too. Ease into the day, and ease out of it as well.

It's made such a difference though; I am still quite shocked and just how impactful it has been.

All of which is, I guess, one big "AMEN!" to this entire piece Bas!

Expand full comment
Bas Grasmayer's avatar

I also quit booze at the start of the year and was surprised it didn't really have an impact on my sleep. Though the combination of that + some other lifestyle changes has definitely improved my quality of life, including energy levels.

And yes, love that bell curve idea. I try to keep my meetings in the afternoon, so I have the morning for focused tasks and evenings to unwind and focus on body / mind / relationships. Frankly, it's kind of made me wonder about my career in the music industry, as I'm not eager to jump on evening calls with people in LA.

Expand full comment
Darren Hemmings's avatar

I have a complicated relationship with my work in music. On the one hand I love it to death. On the other I feel like it has a neverending desire for its pound of flesh. And as I age, I feel I owe the music industry less. Nothing, even, these days.

Expand full comment
Bas Grasmayer's avatar

Would it be accurate to say that over time your motive has become… unknown?

Expand full comment
Darren Hemmings's avatar

BOOOOO!!!

Expand full comment