{"id":6272,"date":"2010-06-09T04:00:18","date_gmt":"2010-06-09T09:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelhyatt.com\/2010\/06\/sleep-and-your-productivity.html"},"modified":"2010-06-09T04:00:18","modified_gmt":"2010-06-09T09:00:18","slug":"sleep-and-your-productivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fullfocus.co\/sleep-and-your-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep and Your Productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several months ago, Gail and I were sitting in the den after a quiet dinner. I had been traveling extensively, and this was the first evening I had been home in days. I said to her, \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is, but I feel really discouraged.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of \u00a9iStockphoto.com\/sswartz<\/div>\n

We talked about several possible causes. Nothing seemed that significant. Finally, in a moment of typical insight, she said, \u201cDo you think you are discouraged or just tired?\u201d<\/p>\n

After thinking about it a moment, I replied, \u201cYes, I think that\u2019s exactly it. I am just tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to confuse the two. The symptoms are similar. It reminded me again of something my parents used to tell me when I was in college: \u201cYou can\u2019t burn the candle at both ends.\u201d<\/p>\n

By that, they meant that you can\u2019t get up early and stay up late. You might be able to get away with it occasionally, but eventually you burn out\u2014just like a candle would eventually do if you could light it at both ends.<\/p>\n

The psalmist said,<\/p>\n

It is useless for you to work so hard
\n  from early morning until late at night,
\nanxiously working for food to eat;
\n  for God gives rest to his loved ones.\u201d (Psalm 127:2 NLT)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Once again, I was reminded that I have to actively manage my energy level. If I don\u2019t take care of myself, I\u2019m not going to be much use to anyone else.<\/p>\n

Of all the things that affect my energy and productivity, nothing is more important than getting a good night\u2019s sleep. Exercise, diet, and mental focus are all important, but they can\u2019t make up for a lack of rest.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how I make sure I get a good night\u2019s sleep:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Avoid caffeinated drinks in the evening.<\/strong> When I was younger, I could drink coffee after dinner. No more. I cannot drink caffeine after 4:00 p.m.<\/li>\n
  2. Eliminate all negative input.<\/strong> I am a worrier by nature. If I watch or talk about anything negative after about 6:00 p.m., I will stew on it all night.<\/li>\n
  3. Go to bed on time.<\/strong> This is huge. I have to be strict with myself. For me, this means no later than 10:00 p.m., unless it\u2019s a weekend.<\/li>\n
  4. Make sure the room is dark.<\/strong> We have blinds on the windows that cut out 95 percent of the outside light.<\/li>\n
  5. Keep the temperature cool.<\/strong> In the winter, we keep it at about 68\u00b0. In the summer, about 70\u00b0. I sleep more soundly if the room is cool enough to require a blanket.<\/li>\n
  6. Listen to relaxing music.<\/strong> This doesn\u2019t work for everyone, but I listen to the same exact music every night. It\u2019s become an audio queue that says to my subconscious mind and body, \u201cIt\u2019s time to go to sleep now.\u201d<\/li>\n
  7. Run a fan.<\/strong> The \u201cwhite noise\u201d mutes outside noise and puts me to sleep. When I am on the road, I loop \u201cAmbient White Noise for Sleep,\u201d which I downloaded<\/a> from iTunes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It is surprising how much more productive I am when I have had a full night\u2019s sleep. Problems that seemed insurmountable at the end of the previous day are manageable with a full charge on my biological battery.<\/p>\n

    Questions: How important is sleep for you? What do you do to insure adequate rest?<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Of all the things that affect my energy and productivity, nothing is more important than getting a good night\u2019s sleep. Exercise, diet, and mental focus are all important, but they can\u2019t make up for a lack of rest. 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