Productivity. It’s the one word that’s always running through the minds of any busy professional, working through those long hours, and getting as much work done as possible. And while we strongly respect the hustle and grind towards reaching your goals and attaining success, it often comes at the expense of things we mistakenly label trivial.
Sure, your efforts may come at a massive pay-off, whether it be landing a new promotion, getting yourself that new car, buying that new expensive watch, or making a huge commission. But if those rewards come at the cost of constant unsustainable lifestyle practices such as overworking yourself and sleep deprivation, can you genuinely say they were worth it?
So instead of your usual blast of daily motivation, let’s take a step back to gather our thoughts and focus on the significance of getting adequate sleep and why it is crucial to define your success.
Sleep is NOT Optional
The modern world has wired our brains to reward us for the lack of sleep, that getting less sleep because of working hard is a smart choice to make. And while we don’t fault those important all-nighters, we should refrain from sticking to the mindset of thinking sleep as optional.
This line of thinking puts your health at risk, and regardless of how much work you get done, getting less sleep is a destructive habit that will negatively affect your professional career. Sleep matters because it enables you to work at your optimal performance, and if you don’t prioritize it just as you would with fitness and work, then expect repercussions.
Lack of Sleep Disrupts Your Focus and Attention
To quote Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep, “Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day — Mother Nature’s best effort yet at contra-death.” Without this soft reset every night, we carry yesterday’s stress and are unable to start the new day right. The lack of sleep puts anyone at a significant disadvantage in their life because it severely disrupts one’s focus and attention. Especially for professionals, the lack of sleep alone can lead to unfavorable situations and circumstances in your career.
- Poor Decision-Making: Not getting enough sleep fills your mind with clutter and clouds your thoughts from thinking straight. This stressed-out mind due to the lack of sleep renders your incapable of sound judgment and leads to poor decision making. What’s worse is that less sleep can make you more forgetful, and you might fail to remember getting entertainment or custom collapsible tents for the big event.
- Negative Impact on Creativity: Less sleep also results in less creativity. As professionals, overcoming complex problems on a regular basis is part of the job, but without creativity, you’ll be unable to find the right solutions. Less sleep then leads less productive time at work, forcing you to do more all-nighters. So when does the cycle of sleep deprivation end?
So What Can You Do?
However, solving this problem doesn’t require a magical spell or outputting the same energy you need at work. All it takes is observing some healthy practices that can encourage better sleep and help you unwind from all the stress. So instead of turning your nights into an extension of your work hours, try these in their place.
#1 No More Screens One Hour Before Bed
A great way to unwind and prepare your body for sleep is to avoid the use of any gadgets an hour before you go to bed. This will reduce your screen time and decrease your exposure to artificial lights that keep you awake and signal your body to start preparing for sleep. It also gets your mind off any incoming emails and work-related notifications, transitioning those tasks for the next day.
On top of that, you can also consider building a nighttime routine such as stretching, reading a book, or maybe a cup of tea to give your body the rest it needs.
#2 Avoid All-nighters
As much as possible, you will want to avoid depending on all-nighters in getting work done. And while it is commendable, they are often the result of not using your initially designated work time productively and adequately. Learn to manage your work more effectively as this will free up time for relaxation.
However, if an all-nighter is necessary and unavoidable, then you can make an exception. Just avoid making it a regular habit in your professional career.
#3 Plan Your Day Ahead of Time
Finally, a simple method for getting more sleep is by planning your day ahead of time. Get a to-do list running and assign your tasks accordingly to suit your schedule. This will help you become more productive during your work hours and even get more jobs done by the end of the day.
It’s also very satisfying to see a to-do list completely checked off and prepare a blank slate for the next day.
A Fulfilling Life Recognizes the Importance of Sleep
Sacrifices are inevitable when pursuing our career goals, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to make sacrifices on a regular basis. And when it comes to living a fulfilling life, sleep is essential. It improves your health and well-being, and even improve your chances of attaining success.