Why Zzzzs Are Not Optional…You Are Not Immune

Only so many hours in the day, yet so much to do. Sleep usually ends up first on the chopping block. We think we’re cheating mother time, but we’re really cheating ourselves…and our work, and our family, and our health… I’m fine, we say. I don’t need that much sleep. I really just have to get a little more done before I turn in.

We don’t want to hear it. We somehow think it doesn’t apply to us. It’s a badge we wear with honor, something we have in common with the rest of our compatriots, something to lament about, something to blame and often a readily available excuse…

Fact: Sleep is a critical factor in our ability to function. Arguably the most critical.

When we sacrifice sleep to gain extra time, we also sacrifice our ability to use our time with purpose and efficiency.

Scary Ramifications

Performance – Scary statistic: One night of insufficient sleep can cause a 30% reduction in that day’s performance!

  • Decreased Alertness
  • Memory and Cognitive Impairment
  • Relationship stress
  • Poor Quality of Life
  • Increased Rate of Injury
  • Automobile Accidents

Health

  • High blood pressure
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Obesity
  • Decreased immune function
  • Higher disease and cancer rates
  • Inability to heal
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
  • Depression
  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
  • Mental impairment

Lack of sleep is epidemic in our society, but we are not powerless. It sounds trite and certainly so often repeated that we have tuned it out, but there’s no way around it, MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY, the top priority. Slash. Cut. Mark with a red pen. Make room for sleep. It really is that simple! Though not always easy. Whatever it is that you think you need to do, that is more important than sleep – unless you are the commander-in-chief – it’s not.

Go to bed earlier, sleep later, or take a nap. The choice is yours. Your work, your productivity, your relationships, and your body will thank you!

What could you do to make sleep a priority? Dont make an excuse, make a solution.