It’s Prime Time for Sleep

By Patty Kreamer, CPO

Most Americans walk around as if they never sleep. The reason is…they don’t…at least not as much as they should. Are you one of them?

With fast paced days full of work, errands, running the kids to/from extracurricular activities, making meals, paying bills, and on and on, when do you have time to sleep? The key is, you have to make time—I mean, literally schedule your bedtime.

Ever since I was little, one thing that I have always REFUSED to sacrifice, if at all possible, is my sleep. If I get less than seven hours or more than eight, I know that I am not one that you want to contend with throughout the day. In fact, if I could get away from myself, I would.

Think about your answers to these questions:

A. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

How many hours of sleep do you need? If you need 7 or 8, going on 4 and 5 hours is OK for 1 or 2 nights, but done repeatedly, before you know it, your productivity and disposition are compromised. Do you sleep TOO MUCH? That can weigh you down as well.

B. SNOOZER?

Do you go to bed too late and have to hit the snooze button 14 times before you get up in the morning?

C. AT WORK

Do you fall asleep at work (or wish you could)?

D. MOODY?

Are you always cranky? (Ask your co-workers!)

The answers to these questions may give you some insight and spark you to review your habits. I know that not everybody has the luxury of telling the boss that they can't be at work at 8:00 a.m. just because they are not a morning person. If you do have that flexibility, I recommend using it. If not, go to bed earlier EVERY NIGHT so waking up is not such an event. By investing in a good nights sleep, you will be able to accomplish more during the day because you will be more crisp and productive.

If you are sleepless, identify and recognize your "prime time". Think about the time of day that you are at your best. Are you a morning person? Afternoon? Evening? Midnight burner? You may even have more than one prime time throughout the day. Take that seriously into consideration as you plan your day AND night!

Once you recognize your prime time, use it to your advantage. Schedule detail oriented tasks when you are in peak form. Your concentration level is much more fine-tuned and mistakes are less likely. Some examples may be doing a proposal, writing an article, calculating your taxes, etc.

Schedule mundane, repetitive tasks when you are not in your "zone". Your level of concentration isn't as necessary because these tasks can be done without much thought. This might include answering your email, paying bills, returning phone calls.

Once you know your prime time, try to learn the prime time of those around you. You can learn to work more effectively together by not interrupting each other's prime time. Productivity will increase and you'll have a better understanding of other’s habits.

Learn your prime time and concentrate on getting the proper amount of sleep for a week (that’s not such a major commitment, is it?) and I guarantee you will feel better and be more productive! (And those around you will be glad you did!)

Here's to simplifying your life!

Patty Kreamer, CPO, owner of Kreamer Connect, Inc., is a Certified Professional Organizer, speaker, and author of “…But I Might Need It Someday!” and “The Power of Simplicity” available at www.ByeByeClutter.com.