Sleep to Succeed

Evidently, the proper amount of sleep can be quite powerful. A new report by The Economist says that more than 2/3 of all Americans fail to get at least 7 hours of sleep. The idea that we can sleep when we’re dead or work hard and party harder and rest on the weekends is now exposed as an unhealthy approach to life.

Go figure.

It gets worse. The report says that drinking too much coffee or drinking too much booze doesn’t help either. The information even says that some of us spend too much time on our cell phones or computers, working or watching viral dance videos. They say that this is a significant distraction from caring for ourselves. It seems that back in the day (the 1980s), when we had no smartphones or laptops, our ancestors got an average of 2 more hours of sleep a night.

Tell me it can’t be true!

Well, I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you. It is. By limiting our ZZZZ count, we set ourselves up for significant health problems. Sleep deprivation can cause everything from lowering our immune system to major deterioration of our personal and professional productivity. Being constantly tired makes us cranky, think slower, easily angered, and just more susceptible to dealing with daily life issues.

You may not want to admit it, but this is a fact, and there is a 77% (or more) chance that it’s happening to you. The Economist report has run some numbers, and they aren’t pretty. For example, lack of sleep by America’s workforce “cost America’s economy as much as $400 billion a year.” For the most part, this number comes from the effects of lower productivity and workplace injuries, and even death when a worker isn’t paying attention or fully aware.

Your loss of a good night’s sleep is a big win for the Sleep Tech business. According to The Economist, this industry is worth over $12.5B per year and growing. This industry is not just people trying to build a better mattress. It includes sleep tracking products that track sleep activity, heart, and oxygen levels. Also, the industry covers devices that play relaxing music and sounds. You can spend a lot of money on things that aren’t necessarily proven to work. Many people abandon them after a while anyway.

Look, you can save your money and get more sleep the old-fashioned way. Look for ways to reduce your stress. Try to get more exercise. Eat healthier and drink less. Plan some downtime. You can call a friend. Some of you may need to change jobs or avoid negative situations and people. I teach people to set goals focused on more than just income. I stress that your goals should include Family goals, Charitable goals, Spiritual goals, personal goals, and Business and financial goals.

The bottom line is that you need to slow down sometimes to speed up. Without adequate rest, you will never achieve your full potential. So, get your sleep. Snore a bit. You’ll live longer and enjoy your waking hours more.