Are you working too hard or struggling to find time for the people you care about and things/hobbies you really love? Could the secret to being productive in areas of our lives that really matter be hiding in plain sight? When was the last time you went horse riding, cycling in the mountains, wine tasting in France, doing a complex quiz for fun with friends, mountain climbing, cooking class, painting, long haul holiday? This one is closer to home inexpensive but loaded with benefits for longevity and high quality of life, when did you last have a really good night’s sleep? Not in comparison to someone else, I mean how your body functions? Wellness rediscovered.
According to the WHO, your health is defined as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition has not been amended since 1948.
Wellness has 7 dimensions, according to the University of California Riverside Wellness Program, although the National Wellness Institute only lists 6 dimensions. The list of factors that determine the longevity and quality of life you get to experience in your lifetime are:
Social, Occupation, Spiritual, Intellectual, Emotional, Physical and Environmental.
You might have your own definition of health, I know I did for many years working nights as a professional nurse. I didn’t really have time to think about the long term effects I was just doing what needs to be done. Until I decided to switch careers and a lifelong journey of wellness in every area of my life. I want to show you how for this article, poor quality of sleep is affecting you now and your future lifestyle. Evidence shows that poor quality of sleep contributes to heart disease, poor memory, and Alzheimers. This is just the beginning. It gets worse. You start to become ‘dumber’, your intelligence levels start to drop. No one wants that.
Evidence shows that poor quality of sleep contributes to heart disease, poor memory, and Alzheimers. This is just the beginning. It gets worse. You start to become ‘dumber’, your intelligence levels start to drop. No really. Mental alertness becomes ‘groggy’. For those who are not into coffee to stay awake, this is welcome news. All things in moderation I have no issue with coffee, I have a sip every now and again. No, decaff actually.
How do I work smarter? Write out your career plan. Set some goals in place. If you go with the flow you might find after five years you have not made any progress health or career wise. Take on the full responsibility of your health and career like never before. A new year starts anytime you decide, no really. I want to show you how for this article, poor quality of sleep is affecting you now and your future lifestyle. Evidence shows that poor quality of sleep contributes to heart disease, poor memory, and Alzheimers. This is just the beginning. It gets worse. You start to become ‘dumber’, your intelligence levels start to drop. No one wants that.
Rethinking sleep, I want to show you how poor quality of sleep is affecting you now and your future lifestyle. Inadequate sleep is like borrowing money you have no way of paying, there are no contracts to sign, except it’s a mind over matter agreement with your body. Loving your life to invest in it completely just like you do when you take on a new career path and wealth learning. Like every other skill, this one is critical to having a healthy mind body spirit and soul.
How do you rest or sleep smarter? Look at your sleep habits, you might be one of many who needs to go on a sleep hygiene program or a sleep makeover plan, to improve the quality and longevity of your life. Evidence shows that poor quality of sleep contributes to heart disease, poor memory, and Alzheimers. This is just the beginning. It gets worse. You start to become ‘dumber’, your level of intelligence starts to slide downhill. Notice the habits of the highly successful. The highly successful have habits they stick to, adequate rest is one of them.
According to the Global Wellness Institute doing these 7 will increase your wellness dramatically:
1. Walking for an hour
2. Drink more water
3. Eat more organic foods.
4. Do a good deed often.
5. Have a family dinner.
6. Avoid plastic bottles.
7. Sleep at 10 pm.
You might not agree with all of the above, granted. To help you make an informed decision on pursuing wellness as a lifestyle I want to give you some compelling evidence on why you may want to consider switching your sleep habit to have a smarter lifestyle.
Studies have shown that our decisions concerning diet exercise sleep and work determine our gene expression. For example, how you handle stress determines if you become overweight or end up with heart disease. An interesting story reveals a business owner with degenerative bone disease and his remarkable journey to full recovery. At the time his doctors said there is nothing that could be done. But after implementing a few health habits of his own, the rest is history. He now runs a health practice. Best part is you also get to benefit by learning his step by step guide 21 Effective strategies to sleep smarter in our fast paced modern world from his book. Highly recommend it.
It is crucial to note for career shifters, night workers, students, and entrepreneurs that it’s not only about sleeping well, but understanding that deep sleep is linked to learning and memory. A study on mice by a New York University and another university in China was done and found how the brain forms new connections ‘synapses’ during sleep.
The quality of sleep is more important than the duration, ideally of course according to the National Sleep Foundation 8 hours is a general guide. How much sleep are you getting and what would you change to improve the quality of your sleep?
Further study resources for you:
Dying for a good night’s sleep The Lancet (UK) Vol 3. No.1 Jan 2015
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(14)70273-6/fulltext
Global Wellness Institue(Not for Profit)
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