When we’re busy, one of the first choices we make is to either get up earlier or stay up later to get things done. Either of these could be the worst choice possible.
If you are overwhelmed with work, stuck on a challenge or trying to resolve a problem, getting as much sleep as possible is the best way to get past obstacles.
You see, the brain is far from passive during sleep. It uses our snoozing downtime to actually organize information, solidify memories, problem-solve, weed out less important data and generally check-over it’s systems.
A myriad of research over the past 50 years confirms time and again that any less than 6 hours of sleep a night significantly limits our high-level cognitive functions.
Action – Instead of shortening your sleep time, try these tricks for maximizing your nocturnal brain powers:
- Just before dozing off, ask yourself a question that relates to a current issue.
- Keep a pen and notepad by your bed. If you wake in the morning with a thought or idea, capture it right away.
- As you begin to drift off, replay in you mind an important positive result you created during the day. This will get added to your mental list of achievements and boost confidence and motivation.
Remember, like good food, sleep is a necessity of life. Don’t mess around with it!