Your health, your relationships and your professional career are often described as the main components of life. The three pillars are important for well-being and life satisfaction, but there is one aspect that has even greater significance. You could say that it forms the foundation on which the three pillars stand.
This aspect is sleep, a important part of rest.
Sleep Is Healthy
Sleep is important for health. It strengthens the immune system, cleans the brain and is responsible for many processes, some of which we understand well and some of which we do not understand at all.
Fact is, people who don't get enough sleep face serious health consequences, both in the short and long term.
That's why you should make sure that you get enough sleep and that your sleep quality is good. All other self-improvement and productivity enhancement steps will do no good as long as sleep is a problem for you.
Sleep Improves Your Personality
Rested people are not only healthier, but they also have better relationships. Everyone knows that when you get up in the morning, you're grumpy until you fully wake up.
Not getting enough sleep and being tired will cause you to act that way every day. Unrested, I am more impatient, more stressed, worry more about problems and tend to be more unfriendly.
When I'm well rested, the world looks different and my relationships improve because my mood is raised.
In addition, you seem more open-minded, active and empathetic if you don't almost doze off during a conversation, but listen attentively.
Sleep Increases Your Productivity
Rested people are more productive than people who sleep too little. People who regularly get too little sleep are particularly affected. Someone who sleeps only six hours a night for two weeks is on the same level of performance as someone who is awake for 48 hours straight.
An extra hour or two of sleep per night can make a huge difference, and the increased productivity makes up for the “lost” work time – usually more than that, because of the benefits to other areas of life.
Unfortunately, not everyone can choose their work schedule, but you should still try to at least match your sleep schedule to it as best you can.
Personally, I notice the differences between enough sleep and not enough sleep mainly by the fact that I'm less concentrated and more stressed. I start thinking about all kinds of problems and quickly get carried away.
This also happens to me when I'm well-rested, but much less often. I am more balanced and resistant to stress.
Before you move on to other self-improvement topics or try to change your life: Start with sleep. Improve your sleep patterns first and make sure you get enough good sleep on a regular basis. These tips can help you do that.
Not only your body will thank you for it – and based on this foundation, you can build the three pillars of your fulfilled life step by step.