I love my sleep.? But I also love being awake.? It’s a constant balancing act between my yin (sleep) and yang (awake) energy.? I have been blessed, and just as equally cursed, with getting a second wind between 8:00 and 10:00 PM.? What I love about this is it allows me to get a lot done and the creative side of my brain shifts into high gear.? Which is really nice because creativity has never been my strong suit.But I’ve learned the hard way that the “feel good feeling” of being super productive from a hard night’s work is short lived. ?The next day I’m irritable, unfocused and sometimes a little anxious. ?Anxiety, which I talked about in my last blog post, is fueled by burning the candle at both ends. That alone should be a good enough reason for me to get my zzz’s.

What are the risks associated with being sleep deprived? ?According to?Harvard Medical School, there are both short and long term consequences. ?Short term, lack of adequate sleep can affect:

• Judgement
• Mood
• Ability to Learn and Retain Information
• Increased Risks of Accident and Injury

Long Term:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Mortality

We live in a society that values productivity. ?We’re busy – all the time. ?And while I know it seems counterintuitive, making sure you get at least eight hours of sleep a night preferably between the hours of 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM, will actually make you more efficient. ?Which means you’ll get just as much done in much less time. ?Health is not a destination. ?It’s a vehicle that transports you to all the wonderful places you want to go. ?Just try to make sure your travel time is between the hours of 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM!