It’s actually pretty simple. I’m the biggest fan of sleep that I know. Sleep gives me life. (Literally – people who are sleep deprived have a a shorter life expectancy.
And apparently it’s World Sleep Day this Friday (19th March) AND The Sleep Council’s National Bed Month this month, so y’know… it’s time for me to bang on about bed and snoozing again.
Plus – fun fact – Wonderland started in bed.
When I first started the agency, I was totally into working from my bed because I’d BUSTED A GUT for 20 odd years and was UTTERLY KNACKERED. I could watch films, drink tea, sit in my pyjamas and work a full day, totally comfy, cosy and happy as Larry. This is pretty far from the ‘wake up at 4am, CrossFit by 5am, work by 6am, 12-hour day and home to the kids’ view of what it’s like to be the founder of a business. But it worked for me.
And when I was not-so-tired any more, feeling a bit more sociable, and actually started working with some other people, then I got out of bed and started working at a desk instead – in the room next door to my bed. (We did eventually move out of my house, and now have a beautiful office down on Bristol harbourside.)
I always swore that if I started my own agency, I’d make sure there was a dark, silent room for napping.
This is because most days there is a time where my eyes practically roll in the back of my head and I HAVE TO SNOOZE. I consider this to be a ‘turn it off and on again’ moment in my day. Even if the nap is 2 mins long, it gives my brain time to file everything that’s flying around and creates just enough room for me to get my strategy and creative on again. Without it, the struggle is real.
Also – true life fact – I think of creative ideas, write strategies, and even spreadsheets in my dreams. My brain seems to think it’s the best time for creative and problem solving. I mean…. Whatever floats your boat, weird-brain-thing.
Unfortunately, our office space is a little bijou, so we haven’t quite been able to get the bed of dreams in there. But we do have a comfy sofa, a special blanket and blackout eye mask to wear if I – or another Wonderlander – really need to get a snooze on. As and when our office space grows then we shall 100% be reverting to my original plan.
Fast forward five years and the lockdown has brought many of us closer to our beds again. Don’t know about you but I have WELL enjoyed getting into bed with a cup of tea for 20 mins when I can. It’s a great place to have a think and an undistracting space to have an important conversation (no bed-based video calls though … too awks for words).
Basically, GET AS MUCH SLEEP AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN: IT’S THE BEST, YAY FOR BEDS and BRING ON BEDS AND NAPS AT WORK.
Happy napping / World Sleep Day / National Bed Month you sleep-deprived maniacs.
Night night.
WE WILL WE WILL SHAMROCK YOU
