This old adage is so true whether applied to recruitment methods, meetings or retaining talent to name but a few areas.
Blog
Counting Sheep
Who has some sort of device that tracks your daily steps and sleep pattern? I'm guessing that a small majority of people who will read this email will have one... I bought my Fitbit deliberately to record my steps and sleep and use it to such an extent now that it has become addictive, at least from a step-count point of view. However, even though I already knew my sleep is less than good (except when I go to Scotland and sleep amazingly, easily getting my 8 hours a night!), do I view it in the same way? I've been reflecting on this, as well as having discussions with leaders and a particular client. But what makes sleep so important?
Sleep is the single-most important thing we can do to reset the health of our brain and body each day. Without good sleep-health, your diet and exercise can make very little difference. What benefits does sleep bring us? Good memory - tests show that those who sleep after an intense period of learning retain more information and perform better than those that don’t. It’s like a real-life "save" button! There was a study undertaken with a NBA basketball player in relation to his performance when he got more than 8 hours sleep, and the results showed:
- +12% overall performance increase
- +29% increase in points made/minute
- +2% increase in 3-point percentage
- +9% increase in free-throw percentage
- -37% decrease in turnovers
- -45% in fouls committed
So what are the consequences of not getting enough sleep? A few of the most common consequences can be:
- Lack of concentration
- Slower responses
- Poorer general performance
- Irritability
- Over-eating
What can you do to improve your sleep and avoid having to count sheep?!
- Cut out caffeine, especially in the evenings
- Low lighting before going to bed
- Turn off the TV and other electrical devices before bedtime
- Don’t snooze your alarm
- Take a warm bath or shower before bed
- Exercise
Realise that sleep is vitally important;
Aspire to make obtaining 8 hours a night an addictive habit, just like your steps; and
Do take notice of your sleep patterns and take action where necessary.
I would love to hear whether you feel you get enough sleep, and if not, what could you begin to do about it?
Blog Posts
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“If you do what you’ve always done; you’ll get what you’ve always got”Posted by Jacqueline Jardine - Tuesday, 22nd February 2022 at 11:30am
This old adage is so true whether applied to recruitment methods, meetings or retaining talent to name but a few areas.
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One of the positives of the pandemic is that there is no longer the monopoly on leadership due to position.Posted by Jacqueline Jardine - Friday, 17th December 2021 at 9:30am
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I have previously written about "Belonging - what does this mean to you?" (http://j-w-c.co.uk/blog-display/293). I want to now build on this and consider it from a team's perspective and what it means if you are a manager leading a team currently.Posted by Jacqueline Jardine - Wednesday, 8th December 2021 at 8:15am
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Earlier this year, I completed my Mental Health First Aider Training (MHFA) England, something I had wanted to do for a little while.Posted by Jacqueline Jardine - Friday, 19th November 2021 at 8:15am
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Recently, I was delivering the "First 90 Days in your New Role" for LHH. This is a workshop which generates great discussion around helping people who are still interviewing to find their next appropriate opportunity and to think about how they would answer this question at interview.Posted by Jacqueline Jardine - Tuesday, 21st September 2021 at 3:15pm
