I’m not a good sleeper. I couldn’t tell you exactly when it started, but I can tell you that being able to binge watch Schitt’s Creek until 2:00 am hasn’t helped. I’m a night waker (who else is intimately acquainted with the witching hour of 4:00 am?), and I either wake up in the middle of the night, or just early enough so I can’t really justify going back to sleep. Ugh – it’s le poo. So, I decided to do something about it! This month’s Patreon theme is Sleep, and I began reading Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. I cannot recommend it enough!

Why Sleep?

We talk a lot about rest days in aerial work, but I rarely hear us talking about nightly sleep, especially professional artists. “What’s the big deal,” we think? “I’ll sleep when I’m dead! That’s show biz!” I mean, I cannot count the number of times we had early calls on show days that meant 3-4 hours of sleep and maybe a stolen nap before we went back in the air. Go backstage at many shows and count the number of slumbering artists – bodies everywhere!

Turns out, being even a little sleep deprived negatively affects every system in your body. You heard me. Every system. Your reflexes are slowed (UH OH), your ability to learn decreases, concentration diminishes, and your immune system takes a hit. If you’re chronically under-slept, your risk for everything from heart attacks to certain kinds of cancer goes up, and your ability to fully function is massively impaired, similar to intoxication. Seriously – read the book (can you tell it scared me straight?). Science, ya’ll.

Training Exhausted

We’ve all come to class so tired we don’t know whether we’re trapezing or handstanding. You’ve done it, I’ve done it. We KNOW it’s not ideal, I mean, who wants to drool on themselves in an ankle hang? So, what do we do when we’re so tired, but we’ve committed to making it through a class?

• If you’re tired enough that you can’t concentrate, or you don’t feel safe, sit this class out. Please sit this class out. Please. Take notes and watch, or call it a night and head home TO BED.
• Tell your teacher you’re really tired! Tell your teacher before you’re crying because they told you to stop sickling your foot.
• Stay looooow and slooooooow. Today is not the day to throw that triple, dearest. Think of it as more of a moving meditation that has you hugging the mat!
• Be gentle with yourself. Your concentration will be a bit laggy, your body weaker, and your emotions less regulated. It’s real, it’s science, and it doesn’t mean you’re lazy or that you’ll never invert again. It means your body needs sleep.

Performing Exhausted

Adequate sleep is a safety issue, and one that’s often overlooked as clients try to save $$ by flying artists in at the crack of dawn, or tour bookers try to maximize shows (I get it, I’ve been on that side of the table). Additionally, circus artists often have a work ethic (the “hustle”) that would put honeybees to shame – honestly, we’ll take ALL the gigs, back to back, driving between them, sleep be damned. We say “yes” and figure it out later! This isn’t going to change (I’m a pragmatist above all else), but any step in the right direction is, well, in the right direction. Whenever possible, we might try to:

• Acknowledge that sleep is essential, and that a lack of it increases the risk of accident and injury
• Work a rest clause into our technical riders
• Set guidelines on how early or late flights can be
• Sleep instead of going out with the cast (or watching Schitt’s Creek…)
• Nap when we can on gigs with zero guilt

I’m only now learning what a big deal sleep is. If you have a sleep issue, or just haven’t been getting enough sleep, friend – it’s worth prioritizing, circus or not. Read or listen to “Why We Sleep” or the Clif Notes version – it’s excellent, and you’ll be glad you did! Love and pullups…..zzzzzzzz……..