The Better Sleep Challenge: 30 Minutes To Change Your Life
This post is part of the Better Sleep series. Be sure to sign up for RSS or email updates to catch the entire series of articles.
Yesterday we talked about what you would do with an extra 30 or 60 minutes a day (180 – 365 hours a year!), and we had a few good comments (drop by and add your own when you get a chance). Now it’s time for a challenge – I dare you to make it happen next week.
The best part is that you can do this even if you’re not interested in becoming an early riser – if you’re a night owl, just block off 30 minutes a night to tackle something meaningful in life you’ve been putting off. The goal here is to add something that has long-term importance to your life so it can become a habit.
This is a lead-in to some of the tips I’ll give you next week on how to pack more actual rest into the sleep you get every night. For today, however, I want you to just think of what you’re going to do with your 30 minutes each day and block it out on your calendar. This in itself will help you get better sleep tonight. Why?
Knowing You’re Moving Forward Helps You Unwind
Mentally, you’re telling yourself that you’re going to be doing something that will make your life more fulfilling and balanced, and because of that, you’ll feel better overall. A little less stressed. A little happier with where your life is going. And that will help you sleep easier at night, period.
Because I want to see you have the highest chances of success, here’s what I suggest you do over the weekend: Get an extra 30-60 minutes of sleep on Saturday and Sunday, just to make sure you start Monday out right. The world will not end if you catch a little extra sleep this weekend, whether it’s packing in early or sleeping just a little later. If you take on this challenge you’re going to have a hella great week, so set yourself up for success.
So What Will You Do During The Challenge?
If you haven’t already decided to step up and stop putting that important “something” off any longer, put your goal on yesterday’s post. Get some rest this weekend. And prepare for a week you’ll really enjoy and remember for a long time. I’ll field all your questions on how to make it easier to wake up ready for action and I’m sure the 300 or so people who read this blog daily will chime in with some words of encouragement.
It’s your life. Take control of it.
See you on Monday -
Dave
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Kicking a$$ as usual, Dave.
People, if this is something you’ve ever been curious about, give it a shot. It really does work.
I mean, we all have the same number of hours in a day. We don’t know how long we’ll be here. Even if we just take the time to sit and reflect – to clear the mind for the day ahead – that has to be worth something.
Brett Legree’s last blog post..viking fridays – the best things.
Dave – I wanted to give some feedback to to you, and I think your wife! Your wife’s comment was something like, “instead of feeling guiltiy about going to bed early and leaving your wife by herself, ask you wife how she feels about it”. Well, I did that, and the answer was “No, I don’t mind! In fact, it give me a little more time to unwind! Go for it!” It was good advice. Just to be ont he safe side, I’m still asking her each evening, “Do you have anything you want us to do together yet tonight or can I head off to sleep?” At least I’m givivng her the option. So far, the answer has been, “Go already!” Again, thanks for the forehead slapping advice. I think my wife appreciate three things about it: 1. That I’m asking, and, 2. She gets rid of me a couple hours earlier, and 3. She feels that I’m up early and getting after my work. A win, win, win situation!
Mark R. Reif
Good Grief! Here it is after I proofed it!
Mark
Dave – I wanted to give some feedback to to you, and I think your wife! Your wife’s comment was something like, “instead of feeling guilty about going to bed early and leaving your wife by herself, ask your wife how she feels about it”. Well, I did that, and the answer was “No, I don’t mind! In fact, it gives me a little more time to unwind! Go for it!” It was good advice. Just to be on the safe side, I’m still asking her each evening, “Do you have anything you want us to do together yet tonight or can I head off to sleep?” At least I’m giving her the option. So far, the answer has been, “Go already!” Again, thanks for the forehead slapping advice. I think my wife appreciates three things about it: 1. That I’m asking, 2. She gets rid of me a couple hours earlier in the evening, and 3. She feels that I’m up early and getting after my work. A win, win, win situation!
Ya, you are right, in fact, sticking to schedules on weekdays and taking extra sleep on weekends is something which has done wonders for me in past.
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if you eat a lot of choclate and run for 30mins it helps you sleep