Dakota Johnson: Why Sleep Comes First

Hollywood actress Dakota Johnson says, “Sleep is her number one priority”. 

I have asked most of the people what matters most in life, and you might hear family, money, health, or career. But Hollywood actress Dakota Johnson gave a very different answer. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the Fifty Shades of Grey star said, "Sleep is my number one priority in life."

However, it is an unusual thing for a busy film star to say. Celebrities are also packed with various schedules and early call times. She has shared various sleep habits and what the rest of us can learn from them. 

Dakota says she has to sleep a lot more than most of the adults. But if she sleeps for fewer hours in a night, she cannot function properly. In fact, she can sleep happily for fourteen hours in just one go. 

Suggested by Health experts that says most of the adults need around seven to nine hours a night. This clock timing differs for different people, though, and others need more to feel normal. Dakota plans her life accordingly instead of fighting with sleep issues. 

What happens when you don’t have a fixed alarm clock

“Wake up at the same time every day”, you might have heard from sleep guides. But Dakota does not do this. But she does not have a set wake-up time. She makes plans for her sleep time depending on how the day looks. 

On a work day, she wakes up when she has to. But when she has a day off, like you must have heard, Monday blues. She sleeps for as long as her body lets her. Or in other words, she makes rest a priority and listens to her body's needs.

For most of the people, a fixed schedule is required. But Dakota’s job does not allow for one. Film shoots mean having early mornings and late nights the next. Her approach is to protect her sleep whenever she can and make up for lost hours when work eases off.

Yes, It's not just about sleep

The only healthy habit in life that you can make is to maintain a sleep routine. She works five days a week. Her routine starts with a mix of yoga, Pilates, and bodyweight training. None of these is a heavy, bulky style of workout. They focus on flexibility, strength, and control.

She meditates twice a day. The style she follows is transcendental meditation, where you sit quietly and repeat the same word consistently. Also, she says that she works on her breathwork. That means she pays attention to her breathing patterns and slows down on purpose. That might sound like laziness to you, but it needs a big help with anxiety. 

Her day is built on three things: plenty of rest, regular exercise time to calm her mind. 

These habits support each other. Exercise also plays a vital role in making these sleep issues better, and a calm mind can make it easier to fall asleep.

Talking openly about mental health

Dakota has never hide this fact that she also had emotional struggles. In a 2020 interview with Marie Claire, she spoke about living with depression since her teenage years. She said that with the help of professionals, she came to understand that it was something she could slip into.

She also said she has learned to understand this in a more positive way. Because she feels things deeply, she feels the world around her more strongly. She described herself as a complicated person, but one who doesn't push those complications onto others.

It's good to see a well-known person speak about this honestly. When celebrities talk openly about mental health, it can make ordinary people feel less alone. It also fits with her current routine. Good sleep, meditation, breathwork and exercise are all things that can support a healthy mind.

What can we take from her routine?

You don't need to be a movie star to learn from Dakota's habits. Here are a few simple ideas.

A word of caution

It's worth remembering that Dakota's schedule works for her. Not everyone can sleep ten to fourteen hours or take a day off whenever they need one. If you regularly feel very tired even after a full night's sleep, or you need far more sleep than usual, it's a good idea to see a doctor. Heavy tiredness can sometimes have a medical cause.

Final thoughts

Dakota Johnson's message is simple: look after your rest, and the rest of life gets easier. In a world that praises being busy and sleeping less, she is happy to say that sleep comes first. Along with exercise, meditation, and open talk about her mental health, her routine shows a calm and honest way of living.

You may not need fourteen hours of sleep, and you may not want to try hot yoga. But the basic idea is worth keeping: protect your sleep, listen to your body, and make time for your mind.