Wakey, wakey!
How do you feel when you don’t get enough sleep? Are you enthusiastic and upbeat; or irritable and lethargic? Do you feel like going for a workout; or lounging in front of the TV with a bag of chips? Are you productive and creative; or distracted and uninspired?
Think about the choices and decisions you’ve made when you’re were sleep deprived. Were they aligned with ones you would have normally made; or did they come back to haunt you at another time?
Like the bag of chips lounging in front of the TV…
You know where this is heading. And for good reason. Other than an extreme or unavoidable circumstance that may happen from time to time. Or a medical condition. You are in complete control of how much sleep you get every night. It’s your responsibility to make sure it happens. And it’s your fault when it doesn’t.
This week we’ll look at how sleep deprivation is costing us more than just wasted time and billions of dollars.
In Michael Hyatt’s blog post “4 Reasons Your Leadership Suffers When You Cheat Sleep”, he points out that the national average for the amount of sleep leaders get is five and a half hours a night. About 20% less than what most people think they’re getting. And it gets worse if the quality of your sleep is suffering.
He goes on by outlining his 4 reasons why not getting enough sleep is undermining your team. When you’re sleep deprived:
- Your ability to focus your attention selectively is impaired.
- Innovation and problem solving suffers.
- Decision making skills decline.
- Emotionally, feelings are expressed in a more negative way.
WebMD wrote about 10 Things to Hate About Sleep Loss. Here’s their list:
- Sleepiness causes accidents.
- Sleep loss dumbs you down.
- Sleep deprivation can lead to serious health problems.
- Lack of sleep kills sex drive.
- Sleepiness is depressing.
- Lack of sleep ages your skin.
- Sleepiness makes you forgetful.
- Losing sleep can make you gain weight.
- Lack of sleep may increase risk of death.
- Sleep loss impairs judgement, especially about sleep.
None of the items on either list are going to improve your life. In fact, it’s just the opposite that you can expect. Even more of a reason to make sleep a priority.
But what happens if you have a sleep disorder? According to the Consumer Reports ‘On Health’ publication, up to 70 million Americans may have a sleep disorder. And according to research published in the journal ‘Sleep Medicine’, more than 40 million don’t get a proper diagnosis or treatment. Jeeze!
They suggest that if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or can’t function normally, you should consult your primary care physician to identify or rule out illnesses that can affect sleep. Like depression and overactive thyroid. Otherwise it’s recommended that you see a board certified sleep specialist. They can determine if you’re suffering from a common sleep disorder, including:
- Chronic insomnia.
- Obstructive sleep apnea.
- Restless legs syndrome.
Chronic insomnia affects roughly 10 to 15 percent of adults. It’s defined as trouble falling or staying asleep at least 3 times per week for 3 months or more. Lifestyle habits are evaluated including caffeine use, alcohol consumption, use of electronic devices close to bedtime, and medications taken.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects an estimated 25 million Americans. It results in numerous pauses in breathing during sleep. A sleep lab polysomnogram is recommended to properly diagnose this disorder.
Restless legs syndrome affects about 10 percent of American adults. Symptoms include leg sensations such as burning, a creepy-crawly feeling, throbbing, or an uncontrollable urge to move your legs.
We’ve covered a lot here. You need 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. If you’re falling short, it’s up to you to take control. And if you’re one of the 70 million Americans with a potential sleep disorder, seek medical help. Your health and your life depend on it!
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