I used to tell my high school students, "Hey, Elon Musk has the same hours in the day that we do, so what's the difference?" Sometimes they'd understand the bigger picture, but most times it veered off into discussions about Tesla, space creations, or Musk's daily activities. The point was clear: entrepreneurs like Elon Musk emphasize getting at least 6 hours of sleep each night for productivity purposes. Here’s how I had to learn this the hard way...
I unpacked a 5-bedroom house into a 4-bedroom one, decorated for Christmas, wrapped presents, painted the house, and even tore down a wall in less than 25 days. Creating memories, establishing traditions, and being a family during the holidays were powerful motivators, but I chose the least healthy option: doing it all at night.
There was no way I could make moves while teaching high school full-time and developing my yoga business. I would lie awake thinking, "Think of all the things I could be doing while laying here, sleepless in this new house by myself," after we moved in. Matt and I signed the dotted line, he went to work, and I took off for Thanksgiving, knowing he was coming back on Christmas Eve and I demanded perfection.
When you want something badly enough, you make the time. I figured I could stay up all night on some Fridays and Saturdays and get at least 24-40 hours more working time than normal. So, that's what I did. I didn't edit my schedule to look where time was wasted in the week/day. I didn't decrease my extracurriculars or non-mandatory obligations. Nope, I burned the candle at both ends.
What did I learn? Foregoing sleep made me sick. I lost about 30 pounds because my body didn't have an opportunity to go through its REST & DIGEST phase during sleep. My back started to hurt - I was in physical body pain because of lack of support - literally. I was stubborn and dead set on perfection and wouldn't take NO for an answer, even if it was the most reasonable answer. My expectations were high - too high - for the work that needed to be done and they were self-induced. I was irritated, intolerant, and impatient.
I lacked creativity. I was so exhausted all of my energy went to putting out fires that I inevitably created and I didn't have any energy to partake in the things that I actually liked to do. I was burned out.
Because of my burnout, my tunnel vision became "Just the next night, just the next night" as opposed to the bigger picture and that's where mistakes were made - like breaking my foot while carrying 100 things, one of which was a glass container that slipped right out from under my arm.
These were the costs that were too expensive for me to spend any more time on.
If I was getting at least 6 hours of sleep nightly, I would have experienced better:
Cognitive Function:
Sleep allows your brain to recharge, enhancing cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and decision-making abilities.
Productivity:
Adequate sleep supports higher productivity levels, enabling you to accomplish tasks more efficiently and effectively throughout the day.
Creativity:
Quality sleep fosters creativity by allowing your brain to process information and make new connections, essential for problem-solving and innovation.
Mood Regulation:
Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating emotions and mood stability. With better sleep, you're more likely to approach challenges with a positive mindset.
Physical Health:
Consistent sleep promotes overall physical health, including a stronger immune system, improved metabolism, and better cardiovascular health.
Stress Reduction:
Sleep helps regulate stress hormones like cortisol, reducing overall stress levels and promoting better resilience to daily pressures.
Energy Levels:
Sleep provides enough rest to maintain energy levels throughout the day, reducing the need for stimulants like caffeine to stay alert.
Longevity:
Research suggests that consistent, moderate sleep durations, like six hours, are associated with better long-term health outcomes and increased longevity.
Safety:
Adequate sleep reduces the risk of accidents and injuries by improving alertness and reaction times, crucial for safe driving and operating machinery.
Emotional Well-being:
Sleep impacts emotional well-being, promoting feelings of happiness, satisfaction, and overall quality of life.
We all have a lot to do! The real question is, what needs to be done today versus what can wait?
Stay tuned for part 2!
In the meantime, have you heard of The Yoga Health Club? Productivity, health, sleep and movement are all core themes of YHC that we review and learn as the busy year carries on. It's a Health Journey like no other since you enter feeling like you need a lifestyle change but everything you've tried doesn't actually change your life. That's because nothing really changes in 3 weeks, life goes on, temptations suck and without a good support team and motivators, why bother changing? Being gluttonous is pretty fun! Until you get sick.. or tired.. or can't do the things you want to do anymore. Think about The Yoga Health Club. It will seriously change your life.
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