Written by – Julie Morris julie@juliemorris.org www.juliemorris.org
Better sleep is often hard to come by, especially when you lead a busy life as an entrepreneur. Even when you’re tired, you may be unable to relax with a mind full of tasks, stress, and goals, or you may be in the habit of staying up late and waking up early to get things done.
Good sleep is the cornerstone of a healthy routine, however, and without it you may suffer from an increased risk of depression, anxiety, or physical health problem. You’ll also likely have trouble focusing during the day, which can make reaching your goals and finding balance extremely difficult.
While it can be hard to make big changes to your routine, doing so can help you get better sleep, both in quality and quantity. Think about the best ways to help your mind and body relax, and get on a schedule allows you to complete all the tasks on your list before the end of the day. You can also make some changes to your lifestyle, such as eating better and getting more exercise, in order to prepare your body for better sleep. These are all great ways to not only get good rest, but also to get ahead in your career.
Here are a few things to think about when you want to find better rest as a busy entrepreneur.
Make your bedroom a restful haven
The room you sleep in should be as comfortable as possible, but it’s not just your bedding that will play a role. You should also consider the wall color, temperature, and lighting when you’re ready to improve your sleep cycle. The overall design of your bedroom is important. Think about blackout curtains to keep the room dark, soft bulbs for nighttime, a ceiling fan to keep things cool, and removing technology so you can successfully turn your brain off at the end of the day.
Don’t short yourself sleep time
Staying up late and waking early is a great way to get a lot done, but it’s pretty terrible for your body and mind. Shorting yourself on sleep may seem unavoidable when you have a busy schedule with your business, but you could actually be hurting your ability to function at a high level. It’s better to create a solid bedtime routine and get to sleep early so you can wake up early and get a jumpstart on the day.
Set a successful routine
One of the keys to finding success as an entrepreneur is knowing how to tackle the most important things on your list. Doing this at the start of your day — or at least making a plan in the morning — will help you take on your tasks with fervor and will keep procrastination to a minimum. This means asking yourself what the most meaningful thing is that you can take care of early, rather than starting off with minor tasks like checking your email. This will set the tone for the rest of the day.
Boost your sleep quality
Sometimes there’s just no getting around the amount of sleep you’re able to get; life gets in the way now and then. However, you can make sure that your quality of sleep is solid by removing distractions or setting some rules. For instance, you might leave your phone in another room so you won’t be tempted to reach for it after laying awake for a few minutes, or teaching your pets to sleep in their own beds rather than jumping into bed with you and keeping you awake.
Finding better sleep doesn’t have to be a stressful task. By making some small changes to your lifestyle and surroundings, you’ll have a much better chance of getting restful sleep, which will in turn help you reach your goals as an entrepreneur and find success in everything you do.