Sleep And Productivity For Business Owners

Getting enough sleep isn’t just mandatory for your health, but for your business as well. Why do think companies like google have nap pods? They understand the importance of sleep to productivity.

Sleep deprivation makes you cranky, tired, less productive and makes it more difficult to stay focused on things that matter. We all know it is recommended that adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, we also know that with deadlines, and families, 7 hours of sleep is a luxury.

Statistics back this up. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)4 it is estimated that one-third of Americans get less than 6 hours of sleep every night. No wonder many people say that mornings aren’t for them.

TAKE A NAP

So how do we get more sleep? One way is to take naps. Most of us are working from home and can use our designated lunch break as a “nap hour”. When I lived abroad I was pleasantly surprised to that from about noon to 2 p.m., most things closed down for naptime. It was a lovely way to give employees and employers time to slow down, eat unhurriedly, and quite simply gather strength for the rest of the day ahead.

When I moved back to the states, I realized just how important that rest time was. I became more stressed, less productive, and I gained weight. Once I became a business owner, I scheduled my own siesta time and watched my productivity skyrocket. Try adding a nap into your mid-day routine or right after work. You’d be surprised how 45 to 90 minutes will do wonders for you.

SET A TIMER

Maybe naps are not now and will never be your thing. No worries, there are other ways to “rest” without sleeping. Let me ask you, how often do you take breaks? I recently discovered the Pomodoro Technique.

Developed by Francesco Cirillo, this technique uses a timer to break down work into 25-minute intervals. You work for 25 minutes and rest for 5 to 10 minutes. This working, then resting allows for maximum productivity and creativity. Think of it as interval training for your brain. Giving your brain clear directives for tasks and rewarding yourself with rest, decreases stress and fatigue.

FIND THE SLEEP CYCLE THAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU

Lastly, find what time of day is best for you to work. Most of us ARE NOT apart of the 5 a.m. club and don’t need to be in order to be productive. Check-in with yourself, listen to your body, and schedule tasks during the times of day when you are most awake, and productive. Finding what works best for you will make you a better business owner and a more profitable one.

Author

Leslie Berry