If you want to kick ass tomorrow, you need some rest tonight.
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Let me be honest, many times when I have felt rushed or overwhelmed with my to-do list at work or in life I’ve been tempted to just push through to get one more thing done and sacrifice a few hours of sleep. Despite my extra efforts, the next morning my feelings of overwhelm and panic would still be there. I may have squeezed in one more task but I still had to tackle my long to-do list, now while thinking less sharply and totally dependent on caffeine to drag my butt through the day.
Eventually, (and really after some health issues forced me too) I started making 7-8 hours of sleep a non-negotiable and goodness(!) it has made a difference in my life.
Getting enough sleep refreshes our bodies and minds, making everyday life easier. It also has an incredibly impactful cumulative effect when we bring our best selves to every day. For me, I saw quite a few things change as I developed a sleep schedule and made it a habit.
1. Mental Health
Blocking out time for sleep has refreshed me physically but also helped me mentally, teaching me to just let go for the day and remember that I’m a limited being and that’s ok. One of my new favorite evening affirmations that I discovered in Jon Acuff’s book, Soundtracks, is to remind myself (sometimes out loud even though I feel ridiculous) that I have left myself “a lot of fun things to work on tomorrow.” Focus on the time you are blocking out to prep yourself to be the best tomorrow, rather than beating yourself up for not completing everything today.
2. Productivity
I am a seriously goal-driven person. I’m guilty of writing something on the to-do list just to cross it off and have a small win, so I value anything that could give me an extra edge in getting what’s important done efficiently. I would take a full night’s rest over caffeine any day to help clarify my goals, have the energy to see them to completion, and accept new challenges with positivity.
3. Healthy Eating
This one surprised me, but I found it much easier to make healthy eating choices that fueled my body on days when I was rested. Because sleep regulates the hormones that cue appetite, digestion and metabolism, I felt less hormonally hungry and was able to better listen to my body when it was truly hungry and not depend on more food to make up for the energy I didn’t store up the night before.
4. Being Nice to other Humans
Quite simply, my mood was boosted because I woke up and didn’t have to envision myself taking a nap later to get out of bed. It was easier to feel grateful and in turn happy for that day. When I didn’t have to put thought into my energy levels and how I would get through I found myself engaging with people before my morning tea and being more attuned to the needs of others.
5. Workouts
I also saw big improvements in my endurance and motivation for workouts. Previously, I pushed through workouts only getting a few hours of sleep (or none) just trying to stay consistent. I felt like I was struggling to see results, but was trying harder than ever. Clearly, the lack of sleep was a recipe for poor performance and recovery. Once I started getting a full night’s rest consistently, I felt more fueled, allowed the time for my body to recover and the workouts felt easier.
6. Protecting Your Body
Right before I started committing to get my full 7 hours of sleep, I had been running my energy levels into the ground and not giving my body’s immune system the time to restore. I ended up getting very sick, which further depleted my energy levels and sent me to the doctor. It ended up being a blessing for me and allowed me to turn around a few things and make my health a priority, but I wish I would have known the full impact sleep had on your immune system at the time.
To be sure, I still have nights when 7 hours of sleep is just not possible. Deadlines exist and so do our loved ones, but if I miss a night I just try and get back on track as soon as I can. There are a lot of reasons why getting enough sleep is difficult. I used to believe that getting 8 hours of sleep a night was a luxury reserved for people far less busy. But I’d like to encourage anyone, especially those who are grinding it out to be gentle with yourself and try slowing down just enough to get the rest you deserve.
You might find it allows you to kick even more ass the next day.
With Love!
Kelly B.
