Sleep: The Secret Ingredient that Creativity Needs

Sleep: The Secret Ingredient that Creativity Needs

I recently signed a book contract for my 15th book tentatively titled The Loss That Binds Us. It’s a self-help book filled with real, relatable, and holistic tips to navigate grief. It’s a book that my father wanted me to write because he believed we need to normalize grief. It’s a book that the world needs. I’m not saying it because this is my book. I think people are finally ready to address grief rather than keep shoving it under the bed or into the closets. The world has become more aware of why we need to tend to our mental health and emotional wellbeing.

There is grief lingering in the air everywhere, especially in these post-pandemic times. Families were wiped out, neighborhoods got buried, and loss became a dictator when Coronavirus took over our lives. One of my best friends lost her son, nephew, mom, aunt, and a pregnant cousin within 3 months. Another colleague lost her husband and mother-in-law within days of each other. So many friends never got closure because the only way they could attend the funerals of their loved ones was over Zoom. We all, unfortunately, have a horror story to share.

Covid and the ever-evolving new normal was a wake-up call to all countries and many companies to step up mental health services and support. Because grief isn’t just limited to losing a loved one. Grief is a natural response to any kind of loss. During the pandemic, I taught mindfulness workshops–from teenagers to doctors to scientists to incarcerated men and women. People are/were grieving loss of a job, home, business, identity, marriage, relationships, friendships, freedom, and much more.

As a writer hoping to bring the topic of grief to everyday conversations … I need to be in the right headspace. Grief is a heavy topic to write about. Given that I lost my father and father-in-law within two days of each other about three months ago, grief is extremely raw and intimate for me. One of the side effects of grief is lack of sleep or oversleeping. I know clients who couldn’t get a shuteye for nights in a row. Then there are people who couldn’t feel motivated to get out of bed—sometimes, the fatigue felt never-ending. Without an apt amount of sleep, one gets stuck in a vicious cycle.

In the world of writing, we talk about the importance of “A room to write.” We discuss the power of having a supportive writing tribe. Yoga and walking to lower stress. Solitude to work on our writing. But what we forget to talk about is the importance of the right amount of sleep. It’s part of the creative culture to promote staying up late and working until wee hours of the morning. But both western science as well as Ayurveda acknowledge that the quality of sleep impacts our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

In the world of Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old ancient healing science from India, sleep or nidra is considered an important pillar of health. In fact, there are three pillars of health, and sleep happens to be one of them. I think it’s safe to say that most of us know that sleep is necessary to rest, heal, lose weight, boost the immune system, improve productivity, enhance memory, strengthen the heart, increase exercise performance and much more. But we also need sleep to rejuvenate and re-energize our body, mind, and spirit. Because sleep is integral to our creativity.

Sleeping well is vital to experiencing physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Sleep helps the brain connect to unrelated ideas, which in turn aids creative problem-solving. When we create from a place of sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and chaos, we aren’t true to our work. Raw and unfiltered emotions seep in. They take over my mind and work in an unhealthy way. Throw poor sleep into the mix, how do you find a balanced perspective for your creativity?

Recently, Conrad Hotel in downtown Manhattan gifted me a few days of stay, which was like a mini-writing retreat, to work on my new book The Loss That Binds Us. Conrad is an all-suite luxury hotel with great access to some of New York City’s main attractions. I had the most stunning view of the Hudson River from my suite. I could go for a walk every time that I felt stuck. Between the ducks looking unfettered and the park buzzing with summer shenanigans … I felt more in control of my emotions. I was walking away stress and spending time in nature, which effectively was impacting both my productivity and sleep.

To have had a few dedicated days to focus on creativity without any distractions, in such a posh and cozy spot, was a gift. It was nice to have “space” to think and do creative work and not worry about house chores, client work, deadlines, or anything else. The hotel gave me a self-care kit for a good night’s sleep. Titled the Goodnight Conrad Package, the highlights were the sleep oil, a Yogasleep natural white noise machine, and silk sleep mask that helped me leave the tiredness, frustration, exhilaration, and emotional upheavals of the new book outside the hotel room.

Writing about grief or anything emotional else isn’t easy to begin with. When I reflect on my stay at Conrad … I realize that the writing process was productive because I was sleeping well. I made sleep a priority. Tired minds don’t function optimally. Sure, it was wonderful to not be tied to any schedules or chores. But I was able to complete a big part of my book deadline during those few days because I was in bed before 10pm. When you go to bed and wake up is just as important as how much sleep you get.

It’s true; sleep deprivation can also make people sick. Studies show people who are sleep deprived report increases in negative moods (anger, frustration, irritability, sadness) and decreases in positive moods. Writing is a vulnerable job—if we can’t control the muse, maybe we can take charge of our sleep, so we can be fully and healthily present for our words?

“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.” – E. Joseph Cossman

BIO: Sweta Srivastava Vikram (www.swetavikram.com) is an international speaker, best-selling author of 13 books, and Ayurveda and wellness practitioner who is committed to helping people thrive on their own terms. She recently signed a contract for her 15th book tentatively titled THE LOSS THAT BINDS US (Modern History Press). As a trusted source on health and wellness, most recently appearing on NBC and Radio Lifeforce and in a documentary with Dr. Deepak Chopra, Sweta has dedicated her career to writing about and teaching a more holistic approach to creativity, productivity, health, and nutrition. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and other publications across nine countries on three continents. Sweta is getting a doctorate degree in Ayurveda, is a certified Ayurveda health practitioner, and holds a Master’s in Strategic Communications from Columbia University. Voted as “One of the Most Influential Asians of Our Times” and winner of the “Voices of the Year” award (past recipients have been Chelsea Clinton), she lives in New York City with her husband and works with clients across the globe. She also teaches yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence as well incarcerated men and women. Find her on: Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

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