“Behind every productive man is a well-rested mind.”
A quote emanating from thought and wisdom, as averred by a famous philosopher at that. Nah, that’s just me trying to sound cool and edgy. Still, there is some truth to that, if you think about it.
But really, how’s it going? Have you been sleeping well lately?
I know it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted trying to finish the piled-up deliverables, especially if you’re in a fast-paced industry like advertising, where creativity is your most valuable asset. Sometimes, the thing that could keep you going is a hobby to divert your attention to or an ample amount of relaxation.
After a long day’s work, senior project manager Frances Franco always makes sure to take her ashwagandha gummies, raving that they consistently help her manage stress and sleep better. The ashwagandha herb is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine as it promotes other potential benefits such as enhancing athletic performance, boosting fertility in men, reducing inflammation, and improving memory, although further research is needed to substantiate its efficacy.
This Indian ginseng is notorious for its stallion-like smell, but the supplement that Frances takes is flavored, and that’s besides having key ingredients like melatonin, collagen, and hyaluronic acid. Talk about a restful night and rejuvenated skin!
“Ashwagandha really helps me get a good night’s sleep by calming my mind and reducing stress. It’s an adaptogen, so it balances cortisol levels and eases anxiety, making it easier to relax. Plus, it improves sleep quality, so I wake up feeling refreshed. It’s a natural and effective way to get better rest!”
Consider Joyce Angella Joves, XSM’s content writer, a pro at prioritizing life and mental health wellness, as she has an elaborate nighttime routine. Angella admitted her reliance on caffeine in igniting productivity until she started having a great relationship with tea. She swore that consuming her favorite tea while reading a chapter of a classic book was a must. It helps her retain good memory, control, and relaxation, she says.
But the routine doesn’t end there.
When Angella feels the Zs coming, she finally lays down her bed and listens to indie folk music. Her go-to artists include The Lumineers, The Head and the Heart, Bon Iver, Hozier, Noah Kahan, and The Paper Kites—finding solace and kinship in their music.
On the contrary, neither a soothing beverage nor bedtime stories can help graphic artist Nathan Musngi sleep, as he is stricken with insomnia. Technically, they can, but only if they make themselves physically and mentally depleted. Nathan acknowledged the repercussions of such a habit and promised to sensibly balance their work and personal lives. One night at a time.
Meanwhile, senior human resources and admin officer Paula De La Cruz doesn’t bear the same problem, as it only takes her seconds to fall asleep. Sana all!? Although she revealed that a sip of wine or soju usually works wonders if ever she needs help hitting the hay, On a regular basis, Paula just puts an extra pillow on her feet, as it provides a cozier sleeping experience.
Speaking of bedroom items, associate creative director Yan Nariz and junior copywriter Jazz Quiambao cannot join the slumber party without theirs.
Yan shared that he isn’t typically fond of sleeping on fluffy pillows, but one particular pillow has a special place in his heart, or head, for that matter. The pillow in question is a childhood item that he can use only whenever he’s back home in the province. When traveling, Yan also keeps an eye mask on the go because he refuses to turn the lights off in the room when he sleeps. You have your answer now, Tito Boy.
Jazz, on the other hand, treats her favorite blanket as a constant companion for a restful night. She professed that enveloping herself with the blanket gives her the ultimate comfort, even during the hot weather. BINI would be so proud of such an interesting choice in this islang pantropiko. But when the temperature gets a bit torrid, Jazz usually hugs the blanket and uses it like an extra pillow.
John Paul Hernandez, XSM’s graphic artist, bridges his screen time from desk to bed, as he deems social media consumption as his sleeping agent. The same thing could be said with junior copywriter Chris Danniel Autea since the last thing he does before sleeping is scroll through his socials, especially X (formerly Twitter). As a K-Pop fan, Dann avidly checks recent releases, knowing that updates are uploaded an hour before midnight. He vouched that this nightly routine generally leaves a smile on his face, more so when accompanied by a freshly made lemon ginger tea.
Miguel Macaro, XSM’s junior graphic artist, doesn’t play around with nighttime rituals, as he designated listening to ASMRs—specifically roleplays with personal attention—to be his daily ‘cocomelon’. Despite their weird nature, as he calls it, Migs finds these types of videos particularly calming and healing.
“Whenever I can’t sleep at night, I just watch ASMR videos on YouTube. I know people find ASMR weird, but the ones I watch are roleplays, like going to the doctor, getting a haircut, and more, which is even weirder, I think. What makes ASMR special to me is how personal it is. I just love listening to people talk to me and just falling asleep.”
If that still doesn’t fulfill its job, Migs puts out his sleep playlist, mainly consisting of ambient music and lots of Cigarettes After Sex songs.
Micah Morta, the operations manager, basically keeps things simple. Morts attested that the concentration required to play mobile games helps them relax and have a good night’s rest.
Unable to completely detach himself from work, multimedia video editor Fred Autor showcased diligence when he shared that what shuts his eye is thinking about the game plan for the next day. Fred somehow finds tranquility in planning the day ahead before it even starts, regardless of how simple or vague the plan is. This is to ensure a thorough and systematized workflow, efficiently checking all the boxes of the day. Well, that’s commitment!
CONCLUSION
Behind every impactful final product or campaign we see, there is an advertising firm that worked their ass off to achieve it. The XSM team is no exception to this, as the agency fosters an intricate balance between creative vision and business objectives all within a high-pressure, often limited time frame. And to survive such a demanding environment, one should at least invest in maintaining a quality sleep cycle.
Now, there is no such thing as right or wrong sleeping habits, but there are sure healthy ones and some that are not so much. Being a day or night shifter doesn’t give you an excuse to allot a reasonable amount of relaxation to replenish your energy and your will. After all, skills and perseverance mean nothing when your brain is already at its limit the moment you clock in at work.
