Business Success Requires Good Sleep

Many entrepreneurs are high energy, driven people. These are often men and women who have vision, goals, and perseverance to get the job done. These are all critical factors that lead to their business success. However, there is one fact that many entrepreneurs do not realize:

Business Success Requires Good Sleep!

Yes, that's right! Energy, vision, and mental endurance are greatly enhanced when we as business owners get good sleep.

I recently wrote another blog post entitled Business Owners Need Sleep where I spoke briefly about what happens in our bodies when we sleep. I emphasized how important this is as we deal with the stresses involved in business ownership. If you're not convinced of what I'm saying here, please take a look at this previous post. As I mentioned there, I am deeply indebted to Dr. Brian Sekula for his mentoring and coaching in this area.

Here I want to offer some "How To's" that he has given me that are making a tremendous difference! These tips will help you create an optimal sleeping environment which will give you the important rest that you need for ongoing business success.

1. Turn off the bright lights before bedtime! I never realized how I was sabotaging my sleep until Brian pointed this out to me. Turn off the TV, lights, computers, and cell phones after 9:00pm. These are daylight simulating lights that confuse the brain and your hormones. Your body and your brain need 30 minutes to an hour to transition before going to sleep. These lights prevent you from making the important transition which leads to the healthy production of melatonin, which is required for good rest.
2. In bed, keep it completely dark. The darker the better! You do not want anything telling your brain that it might be daytime! If necessary, cover your windows with heavy material. Unplug or cover any lighted electronic devices in your bedroom. Keep it completely dark!
3. Start going to bed earlier. Too many of us work late into the night. This is typically counter-productive to good sleep. Discipline yourself to set a stop-time, and make sure it is at least 30 minutes to an hour before you go to bed. Let your brain transition so it can start producing the melatonin which is essential for good sleep. Also, over time, you will discover that getting up early will be much easier if you go to bed earlier! Pretty obvious right?

I hope you will seriously consider what I am saying. Good sleep is essential for good health and for business success. As a business coach who works with business owners in Sugar Land, Katy TX, and the Houston area, I see this need all the time. I encourage all of my clients to develop good habits that not only drive success but brings healthy balance through good priority management.

Yes, business success does require good sleep!