Food, Beer, and Sleep
Greg Prickril
IBM MSFT SAP - B2B product management coach, consultant, trainer, and speaker passionate about increasing business impact with innovative, customized programs for individuals and organizations.
Now going on 4 weeks that I've been focusing on getting good sleep (you can start reading the other articles here). I find it fascinating how getting good sleep affects virtually all aspects of one's life. For me, it has changed the way I eat and drink.
I now try to avoid eating anything 4 hours before I sleep. I go to bed slightly hungry and have found that I simply sleep more deeply than if I'm full. For my wife and me, it's a lifestyle change. Most evenings we would put the girls to bed and have dinner together at around 8:30. I now eat with the girls at 6:00 and often my wife waits. It's not ideal, but after the experiment ends, I'll probably make an exception once per week.
The other change had to do with alcohol. I go through periods of having a couple of beers in the evening or a couple of glasses of wine (followed by weeks or months that I hardly drink). I love beer. I like wine. I like being mildly buzzed in the evening after a hard day's work. It's taken me a while to accept that even this moderate consumption affects my sleep. The later I drink, the greater the effect. It's not like I'm hungover the next day. However, I can feel the difference. I'm a little more tired. A little less sharp. It's undeniable.
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I now barely drink at all. Truth is, I don't miss it! At my age (54) I simply value clarity during the day more than a slight buzz in the evening.
Earlier this week a didn't sleep well for the first time in weeks. The next day I was a bit tired and realized that I used to walk around like that ALL THE TIME. I couldn't be happier with the initial results of this experiment and am looking forward to considering it part of a healthier lifestyle.
Read the next post on my experience here.
This certainly requires a lot of self-discipline, and support from your partner/family. It's often easier to give in and relax in front of the TV with a pint or glass (while munching on carbs). Just like dieting, these changes require persistence over a period of time, before they become easier to handle. I admire your drive. For everyone else, even little changes, one at a time consistently can make a lot of difference (e.g. I started going to bed earlier and putting away my phone, when in bed).
Organizational Development Consultant at Citizens ?????? Founder @ KO Communication ?? Workplace Communication Training ?? Podcast Host: The Opposite of Small Talk
2 年I’ve also come to the conclusion that I don’t sleep as well when I have any alcohol. As a result I no longer drink on weeknights… not even a small glass of wine with dinner. I haven’t missed it at all.
Enterprise Product Leader
2 年Good sleep is extremely underrated! Reality shows intentionally sleep deprive participants to “enhance the drama.” It’s amazing how easy it is to have a clear head in a crisis when you’ve had enough sleep. Next thing to try is ditch the caffeine in the morning. If you get enough sleep you won’t need it. Good luck on your journey! ??