Wake-up call
I enjoy a good night’s sleep as much as the next person but if I could sleep less I wouldn’t mind! Life just keeps getting in the way. Things to do, people to see, places to go. You know the drill: sleeping interrupts all the fun I’m having! And there’s a LOT of fun to be had once the moon comes out! I think I’m in the minority though.
A way-cool app called Happify sheds some light on snoozing and happily points out that not getting enough Zzzzzz’s can lead to a whole slew of issues that can affect your professional relationships, your sex-life and even your family.
Whoa Tonto, maybe I need to reset my alarm clock.
8 a day (well, night) is the only way
Happify is a science-based website that uses infographics to help people build healthier, happier lives. Happify won’t be the first website/app to clue its audience in on the importance of getting 8 hours of sleep a night. In the fact, the National Sleep Foundation points out that more than 40% of Americans sleep less than 7 hours.
Outperform your colleagues
There’s a laundry list of reasons why you should sleep more. Sleeping better improves your vitality, optimism and overall health. And if by chance you attach a first-thing-in-the-morning workout to your schedule you will be a virtual dynamo in the boardroom! It’s not for me to say how the person in the cubicle next to yours is feeling or for that matter the project manager down the hall, but if you take Happify at face value I’m pretty sure you can outperform them all just because you got a good night’s sleep!
Really, it’s OK. You can thank me later.
Sleep better, work better
If you just read the past paragraph you know that there is a bit of truth to the ‘ol “sleep better, work better” mindset. Studies have shown that lack of sleep not only impairs one’s ability to focus but also the ability to REFOCUS. Once you start drifting it’s hard to get yourself back on track.
The power of napping
Your nursery school teacher was on to something when she made you and all the other kids lie down and take a nap for 20 minutes. A nap is just what you need to refresh and regroup. In fact, research has shown that 12 minutes is really the optimum time you need for a nap. Anything more and you risk falling into a new sleep cycle of which there may be no return. The trick? Consistency! If you know you start to get droopy eyes around 3:00 in the afternoon then that is when you should cross your arms and lay down your head. But do it every day so the pattern becomes a habit.
To learn more about the benefits of sleeping and lot of other life-strategies, just remember, Happify has you covered. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go lie down for a while!
