I read Tony Schwartz’s post Sleep Is More Important Than Food a couple of weeks ago, and some of the points he makes have really been resonating with me.
In particular, I was impressed with his own commitment to getting enough sleep:
As I began to gather research about sleep, I felt increasingly compelled to give it higher priority in my own life. Today, I go to great lengths to assure that I get at least 8 hours every night, and ideally between 8 ½ and 9, even when I’m traveling.
I still take the overnight “redeye” from California to New York, but I’m asleep by takeoff — even if takes an Ambien. When I get home at 6 or 7 a.m., I go right to bed until I’ve had my 8 hours. What I’ve learned about those days is that I’d rather work at 100 percent for 5 or 6 hours, than at 60 percent for 8 or 9 hours.
This really resonated because I’ve read plenty of research about sleep (some of which Schwartz cites here, such as the fact that only a very small percentage of people naturally function well on less than seven hours a night). I know from experience that my attitude, energy, and productivity are greatly enhanced by getting more sleep and diminished by getting less. I also know from experience that I feel and work better when I maintain a fairly regular sleep schedule, going to bed and getting up at about the same time every day.
But I still haven’t made the kind of priority commitment to getting more sleep that Schwartz clearly has. I don’t have travel disruptions to contend with, either.
So what, really, is so important today that it’s worth impairing my well-being tomorrow? What is so important today that it’s worth impairing my long-term health?
Not that much, whether it’s the fun things that sometimes keep me up (yes, Netflix on demand, I’m talking about you) or the not so fun things (18 ungraded essays currently await me). But if getting enough sleep is a real priority, then other things have to shift accordingly.
Worth thinking about.