Ah no, don't take it the wrong way. This article about the type of sleep where you go 'zzz', and yes, it is a key to success! How so?



Many people think that by working a lot, they can achieve success. This is of course, true. But it also depends on the manner you work. As you know, too much of a good thing can backfire. In Singapore, many people are finding it so difficult to get sufficient sleep that some wellness companies have set up spaces in the CBD where customers canget a power nap of thirty minutes during lunch hour. Unfortunately, Singaporeans are such workaholics that some people skip lunch, let alone sleep!

It is common knowledge that not getting enough shut-eye can cause all sorts of health and behavioural problems. One common cause of sleeping late is work. When we knock off late, we have little time to do the things we have to do, such as household chores, and we end up pushing back bedtime. Some people even bring their work home to do!

But far from raising productivity, staying up to get more work done actually does the opposite, by affect your learning and memory power negatively. Sleep helps the brain grasp new information and direct it to memory. The process is called “memory consolidation”. Lack of sleep interrupts this process, thus weakening the memory.  Sleep deprivation contributes to falling asleep during the daytime, because it makes you tired and unable to focus.

Insufficient amount of sleep may result in mood swings characterised by impatience, irritability, inability to concentrate and moodiness. Hypertension and increased levels of stress are a fall out of chronic sleep loss. If you lose your temper at your boss or a client due to lack of sleep, no amount of extra work you put in could possible remedy that mistake!

Far more serious, long term sleep deprivation can result in weakening of the immune system, reducing the body’s ability to fight diseases. Falling ill means poorer work performance and the need to leave your work post for sometime while you recover!

Therefore, to improve your work productivity, good health and ample rest is really important!

And here’s a bit of good news to those who really have no choice but to turn in late. Eight hours of sleep is the ideal amount of time you need, but if you cannot achieve that, at least make sure that the amount of time you spend sleeping is quality time!

Simple ways to improve your quality of sleep:

Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, going to bed at night and waking up in the morning. Even if you slept really late the night before, you should still wake up in the morning as usual. Sleeping until noon will not give you sufficient sleep. (In fact, late nights are basically irreversible and you can’t just make up for it by sleeping in on weekends)

Sleep with an excellent supportive and comfortable pillow so that you will have an easier time falling asleep, and will not wake up with aches and pains.

Avoid meals and any liquids, especially alcohol and soft drinks, for at least two to three hours before your bedtime. Absolutely no snacking!

Wind down at least two hours before bedtime. Television, computers and other stimulation can alter your time clock, making it difficult to fall asleep. If you must do work, try the primitive method of writing and reading off paper instead, and transfer your work to the computer when you get up early in the morning!

Building new habits takes time. What is important is your desire and mindset to change the way you are sleeping. Sleep is essential for the body to remain healthy. Think of how an improved health and work productivity may cinch you a promotion, just by having ample rest! Remember the popular Chinese adage: 休息是为了走更长远的路 Rest is the first step to a long journey ahead!


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