sleep... get 8 hours?
Only 28% of us do. What's the cost?

Poor sleep could be causing you memory loss, decreased mental ability, weight gain, and depression. For women, it can also mean an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.

“Sleep is quite possibly the most important factor in health” states Harvard Magazine.

A night of sound, solid sleep will repair damaged cells and tissues, recharge our immune system, and give our minds some well-deserved time to rest and wander freely through our dreams. In fact, our body’s immune functions are designed to only fully engage to fight infections and heal when we are sound asleep.

Sleep researchers have found that women need more sleep than men to accommodate the differences in how women’s brains process and multi-task. Time Magazine has reported the risk factors for women who do not sleep well are increased. Researchers at Duke University found a consistent association between poor sleep and higher levels of the risk factors for heart disease and diabetes--but only among the women.

Getting sufficient sleep should be at the top of your to do list. Take the optimal sleep challenge: Can you fall asleep within five minutes of lying down, sleep through the night without waking, and rise the next morning feeling rested and refreshed?

If not, here are six tips to practice for getting into a healthy pattern of good sleep.

1. Turn off the computer, cell phone and television 30 minutes prior to going to sleep. Create an environment that is quiet and calm.
2. Remove stimulants (TV, stereo, computer, bright lights) from your sleeping area. Keep bedroom clear from clutter – remove unnecessary furniture, piles of clothes, papers and books so things are kept out of sight and the space looks and feels calm and simple.
3. Keep your sleeping area as dark and quiet as possible. Consider a fan or other source of white noise if keeping a quiet environment is problematic.
4. Keep a notebook and pen by the bed. Use them to clear nagging thoughts, calm the mind and promote peaceful sleep.
5. Dab a drop of essential oil behind the ears, such as lavender which is known to promote relaxation and sleep. It should be a scent you’ve chosen just for sleep time, not something you might associate with your shampoo, dryer sheets, hand lotion, etc. The idea is to associate this scent with the sensation of feeling relaxed and tired.
6. Establish a set sleeping time and try your best to stick to it—even if you work odd hours and it means sleeping each day from 1 am to 9 am.

If you find, after practicing these techniques, that you are still having difficulty getting good, solid sleep you may need to look into other factors which can disrupt your sleep such as caffeine and nicotine consumption, not getting enough physical activity, or you may need to consult your physician. Remember, nothing replenishes the body, mind and spirit like eight hours of good sleep.

 

Contact Software Consortium or call 1-877-850-9393 if you would like to discuss how to leverage our top-level talent to empower your business.

 

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