That's it. Thanks for reading. The title says it all. Well ok, there's a little more to it.
We've all been there. Certainly those of us who went to college or graduate school are no strangers to pulling all-nighters. During her school and college years, one of my daughters would routinely pull all-nighters and then attempt to catch up by sleeping through the weekend. When we don't get enough sleep or deliberately miss sleep for one reason or another it's known as sleep deprivation.
And most of think "What's the big deal? I'll go to bed early tonight and/or sleep in tomorrow." Here's the problem. It doesn't work and moreover, it's bad for us. It's really bad for us.
The list of problems associated with not getting enough sleep is long and load-bearing:
Heart health: A study found that even a modest reduction in sleep to six to seven hours per night can increase the risk of coronary artery calcification, which can lead to heart attack and death from heart disease.Â
Emotions: Not getting enough sleep can make us grumpy and irritable. Over time it can lead to increased anxiety, depression and other mood disorders.
Brain health: Poor sleep has also been indicated as a precursor to brain damage including stroke and dementia.Â
Cognitive decline: Also known as being asleep at the switch. You're awake but your brain is not turned on.
Safety: Sleep deprivation can increase the risk of accidents and injuries, including falls and drowsy driving. It's been compared to driving under the influence.Â
Obesity: Reduced sleep has been linked with increased eating and higher risk for weight gain and obesity.Â
All of us are going to experience those unavoidable times when we simply don't get enough sleep. It happens. And for the most part it won't kill you or cause you to lose your mind. However, if you make a lifelong habit of it, your life will be shorter and your life quality will be severely diminished.
When we sleep there is a lot more going on than we realize. It's more than physical recovery and dreaming. During sleep, our brain doesn't stop working. In fact. it goes into overdrive making new neural connections, sorting out which memories to file in long term storage and which to keep at the ready, and maintaining itself. Part of that maintenance is the draining and replenishing of our cerebrospinal fluid and the removal of toxin, proteins and debris which can lead to serious mental illness over time.
As a CEO you have to be on point and mentally sharp at all times. It's not only dealing with what you are aware of, but being ready to handle what you can't see coming.
An essential element of CEO Mental Fitness is consistently getting the proper amount of sleep.
תגובות