I’m pretty sure most of us can say, the moment this title was read, the answer was: “NO”.
But honestly think about how you feel throughout the day.
Have you had a few rough days just making it through the day? Or worse, were you days off spent ‘trying to catch up’ by getting more sleep?
First of all, let’s clear up that statement. You cannot ‘catch up’ on sleep, if it’s gone it’s gone.
But, what you can do is ‘take it easier’ the next couple of days. Okay, now what does that mean; ‘take it easier’?
Well, now I’m going to talk to you as a nurse, which I am, and have spent my career as.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to get all technical on you just because I am nurse. I just want to throw a few things out there for you.
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I want you to look at these following statements below, and answer HONESTLY to yourself, which of these pertain to you:
1. I have to use an alarm clock wake me up at a certain time.
2. It’s a struggle to get out of bed in the morning.
to get more sleep.
4. I feel tired, irritable, and stressed-out during the work week.
5. I have trouble concentrating and remembering.
6. I feel slow in critical thinking skills, problem solving, and being creative.
7. I fall asleep often while watching television.
8. I fall asleep often in meetings, lectures or in warm rooms.
9. I frequently fall asleep after heavy meals, or after a small amount of alcohol.
10. I often fall asleep while relaxing after dinner.
11. I often fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed.
12. I frequently feel drowsy while driving.
13. I often need a nap to get through the day.
14. I often sleep extra hours on weekend mornings.
15. I have dark circles around or under my eyes.
If you answered “true” to three or more of those 15 items above, you probably are not getting enough sleep.
Unfortunately, you are not alone…
![font-font-patriotism-font-font-687595__180[1]](/HowILearnedtoGetBackUp/images/28217/font-font-patriotism-font-font-687595__1801.jpg)
So, even if you are not working, OR you work for yourself working your own hours, but you still answered “true” to three or more, don’t panic.
Stress can not only make you edgy, but it can also drain your system of rest as well (among other things, which I have covered in my other blogs).
Another sleep / rest drainer is feeling bad about yourself or your circumstance. Feeling down / depression, is similar to stress and zaps all your energy.
Now what? If you have answered “true” to three or more of the above items, what can you do?
First, change your sleep patterns, go to bed earlier, give yourself 30 minutes later to sleep. Don’t over exert yourself during the day, take it easy.
However, if you HAVE tried going to bed an hour or two earlier each night, or any other methods for more than 3 weeks, then it’s time to get help.
Your physician can help get you back on track, BUT, you have to be honest with them about what’s going on in your life.
By being honest about what else is going on with you, is critical to determine what’s causing your fatigue. There’s so many other factors that can cause sleep deprivation.
I already mentioned stress, feeling bad, depression. Other factors could be any number of physical issues and worth checking out). It could be you hate you job, problems at home, financial problems, emotional, among so many other factors.
This list could go on and on, which is why getting together with someone who knows you, like your physician, or practitioner is the best.
Take care of this sleepy / tired issue before it starts effecting you physically or emotionally. Remember, your body is an incredible ‘machine’, but also very sensitive. Fix the problem before the problem fixes you permanently.
“Busy is a choice, stress is a choice, joy is a choice. Do something about your choices”………..
See you tomorrow.
For those who know me, I had a great career as an RN working my career in ER-Trauma. However, I had an accident last fall my life literally changed in an instant, leaving me unable to take care of myself, let alone being able to work. I lost my job, everything I had & was financially devastated.
The long road of recovery both physically & mentally has been brutal, starting over has been devastating, but I have been doing just that, climbing back up from nothing, to where I am today.
I’ve been very successful, physically, emotionally & financially now since I started my incredible business I LOVE it!
If you’re having similar issues & would like to find out what I did & what I’m doing, email me or click this link to find out what you can do:
http://ipasdiscount.com/?id=51303&tid=
For those of you who have been requesting: privacy regarding questions & further issues, you may at; birdiegolf430@gmail.com
Great blog Linda, I also used to be a nurse… I have discovered two things about sleep lately… that for every hour before going to bed before 12.00 its equal to 2 hours sleep? interesting and warm Almond milk always gets me to sleep – fantastic 🙂
Thank you Helen, Everyone has a favorite way of trying to catch up, but, if you don’t put the hours, it won’t work. Sounds like life & business doesn’t it, but it’s true. Studies don’ lie. Thanks for your thoughts as always Helen.
Great tips on sleep! I think many people suffer from multiple things from this list as we live in such a busy world.
You are so right Teresa, the focus isn’t there anymore because it’s “fast” everything but your brain can’t keep up. Thank you for your thoughts.
Absolutely Teresa. There’s not much or many illnesses that doesn’t relate to sleep deprivation, with the diagnostics we have today. It’s destructive & debilitating to your body, but most find out too late. In oour world of fast everything, it’s just going to get worse, unfortunately. Thank you Teresa for your insight.
You are so right Teresa, too many are multi – taskers & that is not always a good thing to do. You can never ‘catch-up’ on sleep, but you can decrease the amount of energy & stress you put you body in. Thank you Teresa, I appreciate your insight.
Hi Linda,
Im with you on all this, and I have changed my life and I do get enough sleep nowadays.
It makes such a huge difference
Thanks Linda
Di
Thank you Di, I’m so glad you were able to find out before your body started to break down. I agree, it makes an incredibly important difference.
Spot on, that’s the key right there Di: “I have changed my life & I do get enough sleep”. That’s the secret. Thank you Di.
Excellent information. Sleep is so important and so is understand ourselves and what we need. Sometimes we have to just be honest and admit that what we are doing is not working and something has to change in order for us to be at our best!
Kristin, we’re in the world of “fast” everything. But one thing you can’t do fast is sleep & rest. This is why so many are sick all the time. Medical issues have sky rocketed since the world of “varoom through” & fast everything was born to satisfy the A+ personalities. We’re moving into doctor visits via computer screens, as a nurse, that’s scary and will only make the lawyers wealthier. Thank you.
Kristin, we’re in the world of “fast” everything. But one thing you can’t do fast is sleep & rest. This is why so many are sick all the time. Medical issues have sky rocketed since the world of “varoom through” & fast everything was born to satisfy the A+ personalities. We’re moving into doctor visits via computer screens, as a nurse, that’s scary and will only make the legal profession wealthier. Thank you.
…actually I have a product online for chronic back pain sufferers, and it totally changed my sleep life (former insomniac!), though stress is #1 in lack of sleep for most. Great post…it has inspired me to write about other aspects of life and how it relates to online marketing, of course. I tried your link, it didn’t go through : (
XO, Zen
Your Back Pain product relaxes the neurotransmitters & sensors just enough to allow you to relax & fall asleep. That same product would be amazing for those with high stress, since their same neurotransmitters & sensors are wound up tight & working overtime! Thank you Zen for your insight, I appreciate it.
Regarding the link, that was before I learned how to insert the link correctly (thank you Erica)… I’ll fix it, thanks Zen.