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Lack
of adequate sleep is causing decreased productivity among workers.
In 1947, a book called The Technique of Getting Things Done, by Donald
Laird, appeared in the bookstores. The book gave example after example
of how successful people were able to get more done by taking advantage
of the early morning hours. A famous orator and judge would rise at 4:30
a.m. Some would get up even earlier. A quote on one of the pages stated,
"I have always believed in long hours. It is the only way to get
things done
Over
50 years later, time management books are still advocating an early
start. Some even remind us of the number of months or years we could
save over a lifetime by extending our days by one hour. Successful
people are still heeding their advice. An article in the February 3,
1999 issue of the Financial Post quoted David Lunsford of Dell Computer
Corp. as saying, "I often hear people proudly claim they work
100-hour weeks."
In
fairness to time management experts, most of them are not really
advocating longer hours, simply a utilization of the most productive
early-morning hours. They are assuming that people are getting enough
sleep. The problem is, they are not. According to an article in the St.
Petersburg Times [April 11, 1999,] "During the past three decades,
Americans have put in longer hours at the office and packed even more
into their pre-bedtime hours: working at home on laptop computers,
surfing the internet and e-mailing friends, flipping among
ever-expanding choices on television." The article claims that as a
result, nearly two-thirds of adults get less than eight hours of sleep a
night. Nearly one third get by on 6 1/2 hours or less. And, according to
the National Sleep Foundation, Washington, DC, this is a dramatic
decrease from thirty years ago.
Has
this decrease in sleep increased our personal productivity?
Not according to an article in the May 7, 1999 issue of The Toronto Star
[Feeling Sleep Starved? Welcome to the Club, by Leslie Papp.] "Lack
of sleep makes people moody, impatient, unable to concentrate, less
attentive. Over time it can take a toll on their physical and mental
health and significantly affect performance."
Working
longer hours and cramming more activities into the day can certainly
cause stress. And US Today, May 11, 1999, indicated that work stress,
family stress and unspecified stress were the greatest reasons for
sleeplessness. USA Snapshots also reported that three in four adults say
they had problems sleeping at night.
There appears to be a struggle between the need to get more done and the
desire to lead a balanced life. Unfortunately the extra time spent on
work, family and personal pursuits is extracted from sleep time. This in
turn reduces the quality of the time being spent as well as endangers
our health.
We
must realize that adequate sleep is not only a priority, but a
necessity. If you need eight hours of sleep, make sure you get it, even
if it means having a late afternoon siesta. Don't cruise the internet or
watch an action movie on television and then expect to fall asleep
immediately. Read a boring book [I have authored several,] relax, talk,
and stay away from coffee for the hour or more before you go to bed.
Don't challenge yourself with crossword puzzles, strenuous activities or
stressful problem solving when you should be winding down.
Try to maintain a similar routine each night, including the time you
turn in. Don't work too hard trying to fall asleep. Simply relax and let
your mind go blank.
According
to the National Sleep Foundation, one third of adults don't keep regular
sleep schedules, 21 percent have a caffeinated drink at night, and 90
percent report watching TV or listening to the radio in the hour before
bedtime. Sleeplessness could be the result of medical problems; but
chances are, it's self-imposed.
Companies
are beginning to recognize the value of sufficient sleep. An article in
The Toronto Star [December 13, 1997] told about a computer consulting
firm based in Berkley, California, that views regular siestas as a
fundamental part of doing business. The article also quoted David Dinges,
director of the experimental psychiatry unit at the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine as saying,
"There's
no question that workers would be better off if they're allowed to sleep
for 25 minutes. Naps enhance morale, performance, production and
safety."
You
could argue that people should get their sleep on their own time. I
would agree. But by the same token, don't try to get more done at the
expense of adequate sleep. Sleeping one hour less each night might
lengthen your day; but it could also shorten your life.
For more Time Management advice
visit Harold Taylorīs website
or send him an email.
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