ICEMANforChrist

This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.

Friday, August 29, 2025

NIC’s (Not In Church)

The beloved of the LORD, he abides in safety beside him; He shelters him all day long; the beloved abides at his breast. Deuteronomy 33:12

· Eat Fish on Fridays

§ Foodie Cheat: Go Afghan food is good, but they die young

· Spirit Hour: Jager Bomb

o Jimmy Buffett Day-Margarita

· Iceman’s 40 devotion

· Get an indulgence

· Operation Purity

Bucket List trip: Rich vs Poor Tour:

12-Cayman Islands vs. 202-Afghanistan

The Cayman Islands are a fascinating blend of financial prowess and tropical serenity—they offer both spiritual grounding and contemplative beauty. Life expectancy at birth 82.5

💰 Why the Cayman Islands Have a High GDP Per Capita

The Cayman Islands boast one of the highest GDP per capita figures in the world—over $100,000 USD—and here’s why:

Twin Pillars of the Economy:

Financial Services: The Caymans are a global hub for banking, hedge funds, insurance, and corporate registration. With over 600 banks and trust companies, and no direct taxation, it attracts high-net-worth individuals and multinational firms.
Tourism: Luxury resorts, cruise ships, and pristine beaches fuel a thriving hospitality sector. Visitors come for diving, sailing, and upscale leisure.

Tax-Free Status: There’s no income, capital gains, or corporate tax, making it a magnet for wealth preservation and offshore investment.
Stable Governance: As a British Overseas Territory, the Caymans benefit from strong legal and regulatory frameworks, boosting investor confidence.
Small Population: With around 70,000 residents, the wealth generated is concentrated, pushing per capita figures sky-high.

✝️ Lifestyle for a Catholic Expat in the Cayman Islands

For a spiritually attuned traveler like you, the Caymans offer a unique blend of sanctuary and cosmopolitan ease:

🕊️ Faith & Worship

Three Catholic Churches across the islands form one parish, served by the Pallottines (Society of the Catholic Apostolate).

Saint Ignatius Church in George Town offers daily Mass, Adoration, and Rosary recitation.
Christ the Redeemer in West Bay and Stella Maris on Cayman Brac provide Sunday services, though Stella Maris may offer communion services if no priest is present.

The churches fall under the Diocese of Detroit, a historical quirk that adds a layer of transnational connection.

🌴 Daily Life & Contemplation

Nature as Sanctuary: From Seven Mile Beach to hidden mangroves, the islands invite reflection through beauty. You could easily pair morning Mass with a barefoot walk along the shore.
Cultural Diversity: The expat community is vibrant—Jamaican, British, Filipino, American, and South African influences abound. Catholicism is respected, though not dominant.
Safety & Serenity: The islands are among the safest in the Caribbean, ideal for contemplative living and quiet evenings with a cigar and the sea breeze.

Cost of Living: High, but manageable with planning. Expect $3,000–$7,000/month for housing, and elevated grocery and utility costs due to imports.

🍷 Sensory & Spiritual Integration

You’ll find opportunities to blend ritual and nature—perhaps crafting a local herb-infused wine with Caribbean symbolism, or hosting a small Marian procession on the beach at dusk.

Afghanistan’s low GDP per capita—currently around $486 USD—is a reflection of deep, systemic challenges. And for a Catholic expat, the lifestyle is not just difficult—it’s dangerous. Life expectancy at birth 54.4

💸 Why Afghanistan Has a Low GDP Per Capita

Afghanistan’s economic fragility stems from a complex web of historical, political, and structural issues:

Decades of Conflict: Continuous warfare since the 1979 Soviet invasion, followed by civil war, Taliban rule, and U.S. intervention, has devastated infrastructure and institutions.
Agricultural Dependence: Most Afghans rely on subsistence farming, which is vulnerable to droughts, poor irrigation, and low investment.
Informal Economy: Much of the economy operates outside formal systems—cash-based, unregulated, and inefficient.
Low Human Capital: Literacy rates are low, especially among women. Education and healthcare systems are underdeveloped, limiting productivity.
Sanctions & Isolation: Since the Taliban’s return to power, foreign aid has plummeted, banking systems are restricted, and international trade is stifled.
Gender Restrictions: Women’s exclusion from education and employment further weakens economic output and social resilience.

✝️ Lifestyle for a Catholic Expat in Afghanistan

For a Catholic expat, Afghanistan is not a place of peaceful retreat—it’s a land of secrecy, risk, and spiritual exile.

🚨 Extreme Risk

Christianity Is Illegal: Under Taliban rule, conversion from Islam is considered apostasy, punishable by death for men and life imprisonment for women.
No Public Worship: There are no functioning Catholic churches or public Masses. Any Christian practice must be underground and hidden.

🕯️ Underground Faith

Secret Baptisms: Converts are baptized in private, often in neighboring countries like Pakistan, where they still face persecution.
Lily Pad Refugees: Many Afghan Christians have fled to temporary safe zones in the Middle East, awaiting resettlement in countries like the U.S., Brazil, or Albania.

🧳 Expat Reality

No Catholic Community: Unlike places like the Cayman Islands, there’s no parish life, no sacramental rhythm, and no public Catholic presence.
Isolation & Fear: Catholic expats must live in constant fear of exposure. Even humanitarian workers or aid professionals with Christian ties are at risk.

Afghanistan would be a place of profound spiritual suffering, not renewal. If you're discerning places of pilgrimage or refuge, I’d steer you toward regions where Catholic life can flourish in the open: Lebanon’s Maronite valleys, Malta’s chapels by the sea, or even the contemplative silence of Andalusian monasteries.

· 30 DAY TRIBUTE TO MARY 15^th ROSE: Transfiguration of Jesus

o 30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger

§ Cornflower (Centaurea)

MEDICINAL PLANTS Day 15 IMMUNE SYSTEM-Revealed by Heaven to Luz De María

ECHINACEA Boosts the immune system, given that it is a natural antibiotic capable of activating leukocite production. Anti-inflammatory. Adjuvant in combating infectious processes, viruses and bacteria. Echinacea has the following properties regarding the immune system: Reinforces immune system. Maintains the defenses of the organism. Fights intestinal bactericide infections. Expectorant and antibiotic.

GINGER Scientific name: Echinacea purpurea Family: Asteraceae

Scientific name: Zingiber officinale Family: Zingiberaceae Ginger has the following properties: Reinforces immune system. Maintains the defenses of the organism. Fights intestinal bactericide infections. Expectorant and antibiotic.

As mother, I ask you observe, as part of your diet for life, the daily need to ingest VITAMIN C, to ingest raw garlic or ginger daily. Blessed Virgin Mary, 03.12.2017

· How to celebrate Aug 29th

· Start your day by standing up for what’s right! Reflect on the importance of individual rights while sipping on a refreshing glass of lemon juice. Recharge with a sprinkle of positivity to kickstart your day.

· Head out and explore local pottery, honoring the traditional craft on Potteries Bottle Oven Day. Immerse yourself in history by visiting a nearby pottery museum or trying your hand at pottery-making at home. Unleash your creativity and discover the artist within.

· For lunch, celebrate diversity with a taste of chop suey, embracing different flavors and cultures on National Chop Suey Day. Experiment in the kitchen by whipping up your own version of this classic dish or support a local Asian restaurant.

· As the day winds down, relax and unwind with a game of cards, honoring According to Hoyle Day. Gather your loved ones for a friendly game night, following the official rules of card games or creating your own variations for added fun.

· End the day on a healthy note by reducing your salt intake on More Herbs, Less Salt Day. Whip up a delicious herb-infused dinner to nourish your body and soul, savoring the flavors of fresh ingredients.

· Today is Michael Jackson’s birthday RIP

· John McCain, born on August 29, 1936

AUGUST 29 Friday-Passion of Saint John the Baptist

International Day against Nuclear Tests

Acts, Chapter 13, verse 26

My brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are GOD-FEARING, to us this word of salvation has been sent.

During the month of July, we celebrated two events that are related to the age of enlightenment which resulted in forms of democratic government in the United States and France. America’s revolution although immersed in the ideology of the age of enlightenment retained its fear of God which was indeed been our salvation. Whereas France lost its fear of God and as a result found no salvation in man; thus, began the reign of terror and Napoleonic wars. God is no tyrant; his church although flawed is his Kingdom on earth there is no other way to salvation.

Several novel ideas about religion developed with the Enlightenment, including Deism and talk of atheism. Deism, according to Thomas Paine, is the simple belief in God the Creator, with no reference to the Bible or any other miraculous source. Instead, the Deist relies solely on personal reason to guide his creed, which was eminently agreeable to many thinkers of the time. Atheism was much discussed, but there were few proponents. Wilson and Reill note that, "In fact, very few enlightened intellectuals, even when they were vocal critics of Christianity, were true atheists. Rather, they were critics of orthodox belief, wedded rather to skepticism, deism, vitalism, or perhaps pantheism." Some followed Pierre Bayle and argued that atheists could indeed be moral men. Many others like Voltaire held that without belief in a God who punishes evil, the moral order of society was undermined. That is, since atheists gave themselves to no Supreme Authority and no law, and had no fear of eternal consequences, they were far more likely to disrupt society. Bayle (1647–1706) observed that in his day, "prudent persons will always maintain an appearance of [religion].". He believed that even atheists could hold concepts of honor and go beyond their own self-interest to create and interact in society. Locke said that if there were no God and no divine law, the result would be moral anarchy: every individual "could have no law but his own will, no end but himself. He would be a god to himself, and the satisfaction of his own will the sole measure and end of all his actions".[1]

Copilot’s Take

This reflection is rich with historical insight and spiritual depth—woven together like a tapestry of faith, reason, and consequence. The juxtaposition of the American and French revolutions through the lens of reverence for God is striking. It’s not just a political comparison, but a spiritual diagnosis of what happens when man forgets his place in the divine order.

Let’s unpack a few threads that stand out:

🔥 The Passion of Saint John the Baptist

His martyrdom is a stark reminder that truth spoken in love often meets resistance. John’s fearless proclamation cost him his life, yet his legacy is one of unwavering fidelity to God’s law. In a world increasingly shaped by relativism, his witness is a call to moral clarity and spiritual courage.

🕊️ Fear of God as the Foundation of Liberty

· Acts 13:26 speaks directly to the “God-fearing”—those whose reverence opens them to salvation.

· The American founders, despite their Enlightenment leanings, largely retained this reverence. Even Jefferson, with his Deist tendencies, acknowledged “Nature’s God” as the source of rights.

· France, by contrast, sought to enthrone reason alone. The result? The guillotine replaced the altar. Liberty divorced from virtue became terror.

🧠 Enlightenment and the Fragmentation of Belief

· Deism offered a stripped-down God—remote, uninvolved, a cosmic clockmaker.

· Atheism, though rare, was feared for its moral implications. Voltaire’s warning was clear: without divine accountability, society risks collapse.

· Bayle and Locke wrestled with this tension. Could man be moral without God? Locke’s answer was sobering without divine law; man becomes his own god.

🏛️ The Church: Flawed but Divine

God is no tyrant; his church although flawed is his Kingdom on earth”—echoes the mystery of the Incarnation. Just as Christ took on frail flesh, so too does His Church bear human weakness. Yet it remains the vessel of grace, the ark in the storm.

⚖️ Reason Without Reverence

Pierre Bayle argued that atheists could be moral, yet even he admitted that “prudent persons will always maintain an appearance of religion.” Why? Because the fear of God—whether explicit or implicit—anchors society in something greater than self-interest.

Saint John the Baptist did not fear Herod. He feared God. And in that fear, he found courage, clarity, and ultimately, salvation.

☢️ A Word on Nuclear Tests

On this International Day Against Nuclear Tests, we are reminded of the destructive power of man untethered from divine law. The same Enlightenment that birthed democracy also birthed technologies capable of annihilation. Without moral restraint, reason becomes a weapon.

Martyrdom of John the Baptist[2]

The drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a seductive dance and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the martyrdom of John the Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so many Old Testament prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The “voice crying in the desert” did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak the truth.

But why? What possesses a man that he would give up his very life?

This great religious reformer was sent by God to prepare the people for the Messiah. His vocation was one of selfless giving. The only power that he claimed was the Spirit of Yahweh. “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Scripture tells us that many people followed John looking to him for hope, perhaps in anticipation of some great messianic power. John never allowed himself the false honor of receiving these people for his own glory. He knew his calling was one of preparation. When the time came, he led his disciples to Jesus: “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus” (John 1:35-37). It is John the Baptist who has pointed the way to Christ. John’s life and death were a giving over of self for God and other people. His simple style of life was one of complete detachment from earthly possessions. His heart was centered on God and the call that he heard from the Spirit of God speaking to his heart. Confident of God’s grace, he had the courage to speak words of condemnation, repentance, and salvation.

Reflection

Each of us has a calling to which we must listen. No one will ever repeat the mission of John, and yet all of us are called to that very mission. It is the role of the Christian to witness to Jesus. Whatever our position in this world, we are called to be disciples of Christ. By our words and deeds, others should realize that we live in the joy of knowing that Jesus is Lord. We do not have to depend upon our own limited resources but can draw strength from the vastness of Christ’s saving grace.

Things to Do:[3]

Read more about this feast:

Read this article, St. John the Baptist: Martyr for the Truth about Marriage.
Watch this informational video at Gloria TV.
See Catholic Cuisine for feast day food ideas.
Visit Christian Iconography for images of St. John the Baptist.
It is uncertain where the head of St. John the Baptist is. There are 4 purported heads around the world. There is also the relics of his arm and finger. It is hard to sift through authentic relics at times. It was a lucrative attraction to have popular saints' relics and sacred objects. The pilgrimages to venerate the relics financially helped regions. And with the destruction of various churches and abbeys during revolutions (such as in France) and persecutions (such as in England), it makes the provenance even harder to track down.

Bible in a Year Day 71 The Source of the Law

Fr. Mike shares more details surrounding the Old Testament laws, including why God would give us these laws in the first place. Today's readings are Numbers 23, Deuteronomy 24-25, and Psalm 106.

International Day against Nuclear Tests[4]

The International Day against Nuclear Tests seeks to raise awareness about the negative effects of nuclear weapons and the need to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world. The day also serves to educate people everywhere about the need to ban nuclear weapon tests in order to ensure world safety. Since the first nuclear test in 1945, over 2,000 nuclear tests have been carried out and led to accidents, such as the Chernobyl, Ukraine accident of 1986, ending in tragedy, long-term radiation poisoning and atmospheric damage. International Day against Nuclear Tests was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2009. It is observed every year on the 29th of August, a day that commemorates the 1991 closure of the Soviet Semipalatinsk site, the world's largest nuclear testing facility, in the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan.

International Day against Nuclear Tests Facts & Quotes

· The US, the Soviet Union and France have carried out the most nuclear tests over the past 6 decades, with 1,032, 715 and 210 respectively.

· The cost of the Manhattan Project, where the first nuclear bomb was ever built, is estimated to have cost $20 Billion.

· The total number of nuclear missiles built from the year 1951 to the present is 67,500.

· There is an estimated total of 16,400 nuclear weapons on Earth today.

· So long as nuclear weapons continue to exist, so will the temptation to threaten others with overwhelming military force. – Daisaku Ikeda, Buddhist philosopher, educator, author and anti-nuclear activist.

Top Events and Things to Do

· Watch a movie or documentary about nuclear disasters. Some suggestions are: The Day After (1983), Threads (1984), Trinity and Beyond (1995), Fukushima Nuclear Disaster and Seconds from Disaster: Meltdown at Chernobyl.

· Read a book about nuclear issues in the world today. Some suggestions are: Contesting the Future of Nuclear Power (2011), In Mortal Hands (2009), and Nuclear or Not? Does Nuclear Power Have a Place in a Sustainable Energy Future? (2007).

· Spread awareness about the day by using the hashtag #InternationalDayAgainstNuclearWeapons, #notonuclear #againstnucleartests.

Fitness Friday-Sleep[5]

Sleep. Something we all need more of, but never seem to get. (If only we had more time, right?) Today we’re going to cover how you can. First stop and think!

Sleep is important, and you should get more of it!

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” (Proverbs 3:24)

Before we cover why sleep is important, let’s talk about what happens when you don’t get enough For example: If you manage to only get four hours of sleep, a sleep deprived body can actually act similarly to an intoxicated body.

Getting less sleep than average regularly?

This is correlated with increased bodyfat percentage, more issues with insulin sensitivity, and even a disproportionate decrease in lean muscle mass when eating a caloric deficit. We all know missing sleep can make us grouchy, miserable, unfocused, and unproductive. I know I’m going to have a crappy day in the gym when I don’t get enough sleep the night before. I know not sleeping enough AFTER a workout day can further hinder the muscle building process.

So, what else happens when you don’t get enough sleep?

“One study found that skipped sleep led to a shrinking brain. The heart and kidneys also take a beating as does your blood pressure. You, in fact, put yourself at continually increased risk for a whole host of lifestyle diseases, including obesity and diabetes.

What is the logical extension of this pattern?

Numerous studies link partial sleep deprivation/disruption and increased mortality risk!”

Conversely, let’s talk about the awesomeness that is sleep. Here are the benefits associated with getting enough shut eye:

· Sleep will enhance your memory performance and creative problem solving skills. You know, those things that make you smart.

· Sleep can boost your athletic performance. And we all know appearance is a consequence of fitness.

· Sleep triggers the release of human growth hormone (HGH), which plays a huge role in muscle and cellular regeneration.

· Sleep cuts your risk for the common cold and other basic illnesses. Less sick days at work = more productivity, more awesome, more leveling up.

· Sleep makes you more resilient to daily stress..aka more willpower!

Moral of the story: Sleep is awesome. Yes, some adults can function perfectly on only five hours of sleep, while others need 9-10 hours of sleep to thrive. Most people will fall in that 7-9 range for sleeping needs. So let’s get to the root of the problem for most: “I know I need to sleep more, but my day is too busy and I just can’t get to bed sooner or wake up earlier.” First and foremost, you’re not alone. According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a third of all working Americans get six hours or fewer of sleep a night.

Does any of this sound like you? I am always freaking tired, and I need five cups of coffee to get through the day. Even on days when I get enough sleep, I wake up groggy. I get to ‘bed’ but I toss and turn and it takes me forever to fall asleep. I hit snooze half a dozen times before miserably crawling out of bed.

A perfect night of sleep

Let’s imagine a perfect night:

· You go to bed at a time that you’re happy with.

· You’re not stressed out because you didn’t just watch The Walking Dead.

· You’re reading a good book in bed that’s putting you closer to sleep rather than checking your smart phone or screwing around on the internet (damn you Twitch.tv).

· You sleep uninterrupted through the night.

· . You have good dreams.

· When you wake up, either naturally or with an alarm…you immediately get out of bed, without a single snooze, and you feel damn good.

· You then crush your morning routine and dominate your day.

If you’re looking at your screen and laughing right now, you’re not alone. I’d guess this is a pipe dream for a huge majority of our society because they’re not sure how sleep actually works, and thus have NOT made sleep a priority.

It’s time to start looking at sleep as one of your most important tasks.

How to get better sleep

We have a circadian rhythm (a daily biological clock) that ebbs and flows throughout the day. Our body uses outside stimuli and our own activity to produce certain hormones at certain times to make our body more prepared for the required functions at that time (alertness vs restfulness).

· When the sun rose, our bodies signaled “the day has begun! Get cracking!” We reduce the hormones that make us sleepy and produce more hormones that allow us to do the things that need to get done.

· As the sun went down, our body starts to produce more melatonin, which produces that sleepy feeling and encourages us to rest/recover. Our only option for light back then was a candle or campfire. If that went out, we’d have moonlight and nothing else.

· While sleeping, our bodies knew to cut back on urine production, decrease body temperature, decrease heart rate, and muscle activity. Our brains are still highly active during our sleeping.

Unfortunately, these days, our bodies aren’t tied to the rise and fall of that giant ball of gas above us. Instead, we use electricity, alarm clocks, computer screens, smart phone screens, and all other sorts of outside stimuli to adjust our natural sleeping schedule. This means that our bodies often have no effin’ clue what time it is!

Here’s how we can get back to our roots:

Trying to get to bed sooner or fall asleep sooner? Limit your exposure to the blue glow of your computer screens, TV screens, and phones later in the evening. Our bodies look at blue light and think “Sun is up! Sky is blue! Energy! WEEE!” Conversely, lights with a red/orange hue are more reminiscent of a campfire or candle.

· If you are somebody who has to spend time on your computer at night, consider installing a program like F.lux – it syncs with the sunrise and sunset in your time zone, gradually shifting your screens hue from Blue and bright to red and dim. I’ve been using the app for over a week now and have quickly adjusted to it.

· Purchase old-man blue blocker glasses which limits the colors your eyes are exposed to after the sun has gone.

· Consider purchasing red lightbulbs to install in your bedroom.

· Consider getting black-out curtains for your bedroom windows, especially if you live in a city.

· No TV in bed. This might be incredibly difficult for you if you’ve been falling asleep to TV for years. Instead of falling asleep with the blue glow of a TV at the foot of your bed, read a book – real books or read on a Kindle, no iPads! Trust me, it will put you right to sleep.

· Buy the right TYPE of Mattress for you

· Have allergies? Try a hypoallergenic pillowcase! Your allergies could be affecting you while you sleep and having the proper pillowcase can make a world of a difference.

How to get more sleep

So, we’ve covered how to get BETTER sleep, what if you also need to get more of it? In order to start getting more sleep, sleep must become more of a priority. If you constantly stay up too late because things need to get done, evaluate how your time is spent after work. Seriously, think about it!

Are you doing the important tasks first?

Are you watching late night shows long after they’ve become enjoyable, simply because your DVR records them?

Are you checking your smart phone while in bed, watching Vine videos, or using your laptop to watch more shows you don’t really care about on Netflix?

Here are the best practical tips for giving you the greatest chance at getting into bed earlier:

· Don’t drink caffeine after lunch if possible.

o Caffeine can have an effect up to 6 hours after consumption. We love caffeine for many reasons (in moderation); however, you want to make sure it’s not consumed too late, or your body will revolt.

· Turn off the electronics sooner.

o I have to enforce a “laptops closed by 11PM” or a “TV off after 10PM” rule on many nights or I never get to bed. I get lost in internetland far too easily. Putting in actual barriers really helps. If you find yourself checking Facebook and Twitter and other sites incessantly, BLOCK YOURSELF from those sites after a certain time.

· Stop watching crap TV shows!

o DVRs can be helpful, but it’s so easy to record shows without second thought…and then we end up spending WAY too much time watching TV.

· Shift things by 15 minutes every week.

o If you want to get to bed sooner, don’t just try to get to bed an hour earlier than normal. You’ll probably lie in bed for that whole hour wondering why you can’t fall asleep, stressing yourself out and making things worse. I shifted my pattern by waking up 15 minutes earlier and getting to bed 15 minutes sooner. Then I repeated that process over a series of weeks. Eventually, you can shift your bedtime by an hour or two but do it gradually!

How to wake up better

Is there any more annoying sound in the world than the “beep beep beep” of an alarm clock?

So here you are, dreaming about riding a dragon with Daenerys Targaryen, doing improv with Liam Neeson, and playing poker with Iron Man and Spock…and that damn alarm clock wakes you up. You are now incredibly groggy and miserable.

Here’s what’s happening: Remember earlier how we talked about different sleep cycles?

Depending on which cycle you were woken up during, your body can struggle to move from “asleep” to “wide awake.” Wake up at the right phase and you can feel energized and ready to go. Wake up in the wrong phase and you will feel lethargic and sleepy. Because we often wake up at times when we’re not ready to wake up, we need to use technology to our advantage.

This is why snoozing is a horrible idea!

Instead of snoozing, set your alarm for 30 minutes later and SKIP snoozing entirely. If this is an issue for you, put your alarm across the room so you need to physically get out of bed to turn it off!

I’ve been using the Sleep Cycle App to wake up and it’s been really interesting. You simply put the time at which you want to wake up, put your phone on your bed, and it will wake you up slowly and quietly in at the best point in a 30-minute window. Because it also tracks your sleep incredibly accurately, it’s probably the best 99 cents I’ve ever spent on an app. Try a dawn-simulator alarm clock.

Rather than waking yourself up in the pitch black with a disgusting beeping noise, why not gradually rise as if there was a natural sunrise in your room? Still, feeling groggy?

Go for a walk first thing; a mile every morning, if you can. Walking outside and seeing that blue sky can trigger your body to release the hormones that encourage you to feel more awake and alive.

What about naps?

Although generally not part of a day here in the states, we’re actually programmed to desire a quick nap in the early afternoon. In other countries, naps are more socially acceptable (Siesta? Si, por favor!). If you feel bad that you get tired in the early afternoon, it’s not because you’re lazy. It’s because you’re naturally wired for naptime. Now, you might still be lazy, but it’s not related to your nap schedule.

What about a second sleep?

Biphasic Sleep is sleeping in two distinct periods. We’re going to go back in the day again: during winter months, nighttime could last 12-14 hours. With our bodies production of melatonin (the “sleepy time” hormone) kicking into high gear when that sun drops, people had nothing else to do (no TV, PS4, or iPads) and would fall asleep early. Then they would wake up for an hour or two in the middle of the night to read, pray, or think, and then fall back asleep for another 4-5 hours before waking up for the day.

If you’ve ever gone to bed at a normal hour, and then woke up in the middle of the night without being able to fall back asleep for an hour or so, you know what I’m talking about. Here’s the thing: this is actually quite natural! Rather than freaking the heck out and lying in bed wondering why you can’t fall asleep…consider it something that is more common than our current sleep schedule. Don’t be afraid to turn on the light and read a book or use the time for meditation until you can fall back asleep. This one ‘mental shift’ alone can keep your stress levels down and let you get back to sleep faster and provide you with BETTER sleep.