Super Habit #4: Get Enough Sleep

I’ve often said that none of these Super Habits are better or worse than any of the others. However, truth be told, the top ten habits, and especially the top five are probably my favorites. Super Habit #4 is simple enough. Or is it? Get enough sleep.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not the best sleeper for a plethora of reasons. Let’s count them:

Reasons We Don’t Get Enough Sleep

  1. We’re too busy.
  2. Work gets in the way.
  3. We think too much.
  4. Our bodies won’t cooperate.
  5. Physical conditions aren’t right.
  6. We have a sleeping disorder.
  7. It’s the social norm.

I’m sure there are other reasons you may not get enough sleep. Depression, anxiety, diet, lack of exercise, and many other problems can lead to a lack of quality sleep.

No matter what your reason might be for not getting enough sleep, it’s important to address the problem.

5 Ways to Get More Sleep

  1. Create consistent patterns: One reason we lack sleep is simply because we stay up too late. I’ve discovered that I get more sleep when I get on a regular schedule. If you set a time for bed and a time to wake up, your body learns the cycle and you’ll sleep better.
  2. Keep your bedroom your bedroom: Your bedroom is for two things. Sleep and… sex if you can get it. That said, TVs, electronics, exercise equipment, and a crapton of other things shouldn’t be in your bedroom. I’ll be first to admit that I break this rule more often than I should. But then again, I’m living with a teenaged girl and need a place of refuge.
  3. Consider light and temperature: The physical conditions of your bedroom are important. The biggest reason I wake up at night is from getting too hot. I keep my thermostat at 68 degrees, but with polycythemia vera my body doesn’t regulate quite as well. So I went to a layering system. Rather than use big comforters or heavy blankets, I use layers of lighter blankets. That way if I get too hot, I just pull one over and go back to sleep.
  4. Don’t overwork: Whether you’re stressing about your job, working on a home project, or building a business, overworking will burn you out. Set limits to how many hours you work in day. Make sure to have some downtime in the evening before bedtime. That way you can wind down.
  5. See your doctor if needed: If you’ve tried everything and you still can’t seem to sleep well, it might be wise to see a doctor. I once did a sleep study. I had borderline sleep apnea. I even tried one of those CPAP machines. It didn’t help me.

Practice Super Habit #4

Bottom line is simple. If you want to be more successful in life, you need to get enough rest. Simple Habit #4 recommends getting enough sleep. I know it’s not always easy, but with a little practice it can be done.

I encourage you to go back and read through the list of why we don’t get enough sleep and the list of how to get better sleep. Then make a plan and get more sleep.

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