I wasted a day of my life this week. I stayed up late binge-watching This Is Us on Netflix and paid the price the next day. How often do I need to be reminded that I can't function without enough sleep?
- I'm no good
- can't focus
- low-key irritable
- all around unproductive
- not nice
Can you relate? Many students are barely sleeping because they have so much on their plates. Maybe you aren't binge-watching your favorite show (maybe you are), but you're working into all hours of the night out of necessity. The challenge is real.
There are only so many hours in the day to get everything done.
I joke about not being able to pull those âall-nightersâ anymore, but the truth is, pulling an all-nighter wreaks havoc on the body no matter your age. The majority of people need between 8 - 9 hours of sleep per night.
Intellectually, we know our bodies need rest to function. In practice, however, many of us struggle to give our body what it needs.
- When was the last time you woke up feeling refreshed and energized?
- What would you find if you tracked your sleep for a week?
I wasted a day of my life this week feeling useless and run over by a truck. What's amazing is how quickly the mind joins the party when the body isn't feeling well. I told myself all sorts of *not nice* things, beating myself up for feeling like a blob.
How often do you feel like you're just going through the motions, unable to show up because you're so tired?
There's no quick solution except to bring awareness to your choices and how they impact your day. Start to notice how much sleep you're actually getting. Ask yourself how you're feeling - on days you get enough sleep compared to days you don't.
- try to go to sleep at the same time every night
- get off your devices an hour before bedtime
- create a relaxing bedtime routine to help wind down
- do daily movement to reduce stress and promote sleep
- limit napping
While the first step is awareness, the next step is TAKING A SMALL ACTION in the direction you wish to go. If you want to feel energized, focused, and ready to tackle your day, try getting more sleep.
It's a hard choice, but the choice is worth it when you realize how much more efficient you can be with your work and how much better you feel overall.
Once you break the cycle of giving up your sleep, you'll discover how much extra time you have on your hands because you can complete your tasks more quickly!
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Leave a comment and let us know what you're doing to get enough sleep to feel and do your best. We're here to help each other make daily decisions that support our well-being.â¨
