The Bliss of a Good Night’s Sleep
A meditation teacher I know liked to say, “Forget the pearly gates. Some of us just want a good night’s sleep. A poor man’s Nirvana.” My younger self laughed at this line. Spiritual enlightenment seemed far removed from something as ordinary as sleep. Recently, however—after crossing several time zones across the Pacific—I understand what he meant. These days, a good night’s sleep feels very much like my own personal Nirvana.
Jet lag is supposed to be a short-lived sleep problem you get after traveling over three or more time zones –the mismatch with the body’s natural circadian rhythm. Symptoms might include difficulty falling asleep or waking up early, daytime fatigue, difficulty focusing, stomach problems, mood changes, and/or not feeling well. Symptoms tend to be worse or last longer the farther one travels and the older one is. Experts say it takes a day to recover from each time zone you cross. My recent trip to New Zealand crossed several time zones –a 21-hour time difference. So, if it was noon on April 7, 2026, at my home, it would be 8:00 am on April 8, 2026, where I was in New Zealand.
A key influence on circadian rhythms is sunlight. Light signals the brain’s hypothalamus, which in turn signals the release of melatonin from the pineal gland. When darkness falls, melatonin rises, and the body prepares for sleep. When daylight returns, the process reverses. Sleep specialists, therefore, recommend exposing yourself to as much daylight as possible when you arrive in your new time zone.
After a two-hour flight, a shuttle ride, airport waits, a thirteen-hour flight over the Pacific, more lines at customs, and one final ninety-minute hop, we arrived at 9:30 am, not the next day but the day after. Twenty-four hours of travel…plus a day that seemed to vanish somewhere over the ocean. What happened to the day I lost? I’d like to tell you I slept on the plane or at least dozed off, but I didn’t.
In a fog, we somehow got our luggage and made our way to the car rental place to line up …and wait. After signing the forms confirming that we knew how to drive on the left-hand side of the road and receiving our one set of car keys, we headed outside. The sun was shining! It was warm! It was summer!
When we found our car, my husband confidently (albeit tiredly) drove us to our hotel room. I checked the time. Noon. I felt woozy from lack of sleep.
“When does the sun set?” I asked my husband.
He shrugged. “Maybe 8:45 pm?”
I sighed. “Then, I need to stay awake until 9:00 pm if I stand a chance of beating this jet lag.”
“Afraid, so.”
However, by 6:00 pm, I felt too nauseous and lay down. Mistake. I fell asleep only to wake at 2:00 am and, for the life of me, could not get back to sleep. Unfortunately, this persisted for several days until, after a splendid hiking day, I finally fell asleep at the right time (after the sun set) and slept 9 hours. What’s the definition of Nirvana? Bliss!
There is abundant research showing that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, and learning. During sleep, the body rests, repairs, and restores itself. Not getting enough quality sleep has been linked to increased risk of cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems, such as microsleeps –brief, involuntary episodes of sleep lasting a few seconds during which the eyes may be open, but the body does not process the information –a dangerous situation if someone is driving or operating machinery.
Some people take prescription drugs for jet lag, insomnia, or other sleep-related issues, but for whatever reason, I have a high sensitivity to any of these medications. No magic cure for me.
I’m back home now, trying to follow the rules of good sleep.
I wake refreshed.
Canadian geese call overhead.
I make a cup of drip coffee and step onto my back porch, my hands wrapped around the mug, breathing in the cool morning air.
So pure. So simple.
Heaven.
A poor man’s Nirvana.
Enjoy the Passage of Time.
Sharon
© 2026. Sharon Kreider. All Rights Reserved.