Sleep is one of nature’s most precious gifts to us. It restores our bodies, refreshes our minds, and prepares us daily to meet the challenges we need to face. 

Unfortunately, during periods of high stress, good sleep can be hard to come by. The times when a loved one falls ill or passes away are particularly full of anxious and restless nights. 

Sadness and uncertainty are not bedfellows that anyone desires.

43-year-old Julian Lim and 35-year-old Eric Lim, the co-founders of Somnus Sleep Wellness, are fervent advocates of helping people reap the benefits of satisfying sleep even while managing life’s challenges. 

Their vision is for all Singaporeans to prioritize sleep as a pillar of health and to be a go-to resource for anyone who needs help with it. Their hope is for people to start reframing the way they think about their sleep. 

Sleep is not just something that we need for survival. Getting enough quality sleep can help us to thrive and live the lives we want.

Having experienced sleep difficulties as a caregiver, Eric realized how important sleep is to the quality of his health and well-being. 

This happened when he became a young caregiver at the age of 24 for his dad who developed a stroke and subsequently vascular dementia. The stress of having to respond quickly to his father’s symptoms meant multiple sleepless nights, often accompanied by physical fatigue and emotional exhaustion. 

“The constant fluctuations in my sleep-wake cycle left me feeling stressed out and more easily frustrated with myself and my dad. However, it doesn’t have to be like this. Caregiving also extends to caring for myself,” reflected Eric on his caregiving experience. 

Loss and grief are inevitable by-products of life. But before they happen, there is a lot we can do to strengthen our minds and fortify our resilience so that we can cope with them.

To this end, mindfulness is a powerful skill to acquire.

Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of observing and accepting what’s happening in the present moment. It’s about being with our experiences — good or bad, pleasant or unpleasant — and acknowledging that all of these are part and parcel of our lives. 

Mindfulness is best practiced with the help of a teacher who will guide you through exercises and invite you to share your experiences. 

Over time, mindfulness can be brought more and more into daily life. Being fully present for a conversation with a friend, truly savoring a meal, or paying attention to your surroundings on the MRT rather than scrolling on your phone: all of these are little ways to be more mindful as you go about your day.

Julian has studied the psychology and neuroscience of mindfulness extensively in his former job as an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS). 

“Through the research I conducted, I witnessed first-hand the measurable effect that mindfulness training has on well-being,” Julian shared. “These effects can be seen in many different ways: improved sleep, reduced stress, and better physical and mental health.” 

Seeing the impact of his research on participants inspired Julian to leave academia so that he could share his skills and knowledge more widely. Julian now uses mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients with insomnia and anxiety, along with other less common sleep problems.  

Eric, an experienced and certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher, added, “Stop and breathe is one of the ways I remind myself to return to the present moment, keeping myself centered and calm so that I can care for the people around me.” 

Being a young father of a 4-year-old toddler, mindfulness has become a way of life for him. His ongoing mindfulness practice has helped him to be more present with his son and his family members, leading to fulfilling and treasured moments. 

Being mindful takes practice. Mindfulness training is akin to strengthening a mental muscle so that we can call upon it in times of need. There is no remedy to grief, nor should there be, but being mentally strong can help us all deal with its rough edges. And the best time to start building that resilience is now. 

In partnership with liveful, Somnus Sleep Wellness is offering mindfulness programs and courses to all who are interested. We invite you to join us on this journey to cultivate stronger minds and healthier sleep.