We all know that we need sleep in order to stay healthy and reduce the risk of health and psychiatric disorders. But do you heed that knowledge? Or as a business owner, do you let the stress of running a company result in long working hours and insufficient sleep?
Did you know that sleep (or lack of it) affects the area of the brain responsible for making decisions, creativity and memory? They are all attributes that every business owner needs to have functioning at an optimum level! And your lack of sleep also ultimately affects every area of your life.
So here are some tips to make sure you are getting the seven to eight hours of sleep per night that your body (and business) require:
- Turn off devices: at least an hour before bedtime, turn off your smartphone, tablet, computer and any other screen device. According to experts, the light that comes from those screens tells your neurotransmitters to wake up, rather than wind down.
- Jot it down: if you are someone who lies in bed thinking about what happened that day, or all the things you need to do the next day, write it all down. This will help clear your head.
- Exercise: by getting your body regularly moving, you are not only improving your overall health, you are also releasing serotonin and dopamine which are important for regulating your sleep-wake cycle.
- Cut out sugary snacks: if you need to snack before bedtime, eat something containing protein or fat which will give you a steady release of energy through the night, unlike sugar, which can disturb the quality of your sleep.
Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender
