[1]By Michele Barnett Berg
Looking at the image above and seeing the effects of sleep deprivation, you would think this would have us running to our beds and committing to a solid 8 hours every night! However, our society is challenged as to how to incorporate sleep, a necessary biological need just like food and water into our continuously plugged-in 24/7 culture. Lack of sleep has become a cultural badge of honor that unfortunately people equate with power, stamina and even intellect. In reality, a lack of sleep contributes to a breakdown of cognitive function and impairs decision-making. If we look at some of the worst societal disasters like Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Chernobyl, The Challenger and 3 Mile Island, there was a factor of human exhaustion that contributed to each of these events.
The CDC has a term called "drowsy driving," which is a dangerous combination of driving and sleepiness or fatigue. This leads to drivers paying less attention to the road and having a slower reaction time needed to brake and steer the wheel suddenly; it also affects the driver’s ability to make good decisions.
Other disturbing research provided by the CDC includes:
Take charge of what needs charging:
Many of my coaching clients find that they never have enough time, days are too packed, and they are overwhelmed, anxious, stressed and exhausted. It’s a similar problem no matter what their professional level, industry or the configuration of their personal lives. When we take a look at what is really going on it is quickly apparent that their sleep is often being sacrificed.
Typical responses when pointing out that sleep is a necessity like water and food is often a false bravado of "Oh, I manage fine on 5 hours a night," "I hear the President only sleeps 4-5 hours a night," "A triple Venti latte gets me through" or "I will sleep when I am dead." Unfortunately, by not paying credence to the importance of sleep, we make ourselves incredibly vulnerable and put ourselves at a disadvantage to be as productive and competitive as we would like, not to mention impacting our safety, mood and happiness.
Another aspect that contributes to our sleep-deprived state is our reliance on technical devices and smartphones and the mindset that productivity runs 24/7. In addition, society’s response – rather than focusing on how to get us to sleep more – has been focused more on how to keep us awake. Whole new product lines have been created for energy drinks, caffeinated water, energy tablets and bars, etc. The coffee drinks at Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks have grown to colossal size and this only contributes to the problem making us think we don’t need sleep but just more "energy" products. Go into any grocery store and the shelves are stocked with "energy" fortified water, cereal, gum, juice, chocolate, bars and even caffeinated potato chips – "to boost your snacking time!" [3]
Recharge without plugs!
We recharge our cell phones and various electronic devices with a manic focus, but do we take the time to recharge ourselves? This is a short program outline that I often recommend a Digital Discipline plan to clients when they are complaining of exhaustion, stress and sleep deprivation.
Digital Discipline
1) No devices in the bedroom.
2) Anything that needs to be charged or plugged in goes off at least one hour before sleep – we aim for 9 p.m.
3) Devices stay off for the first 15 minutes after you awake (amazing what this can do for our personal relationships, and it starts the day better to say good morning than to nod or grunt as you are scrolling through email). Just a reminder: You can check the weather by looking out the window.
4) You can still use social media and watch your favorite series on Netflix/Amazon prime but use discipline. Limit yourself to 45 minutes a day. This helps avoid the black hole that can happen like binge watching episodes of House of Cards and finding that it’s 1:30 in the morning.
Once clients commit to this plan and start making different choices they are often amazed to find that getting more sleep is easier, which in turn results that they are less exhausted, feel more in control and productive, as well as feeling an elevated state of happiness.
More Tips from a Sleep Guru
We can learn a lot from the sleep guru activist Arianna Huffington, author, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post. In her book, Thrive:The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder, she chronicles how she hit rock bottom and collapsed because of sleep deprivation and sustained a significant broken cheek injury, and she provides insights and interesting research about our sleep deprived society and the negative impacts it is having on us as individuals – personally, professionally and as a nation. She continues to be a sleep activist in her new book Sleep Revolution:Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time. Both are great reads before bed or between naps this summer vacation!
Hopefully, sleep becomes the new vice and we return naturally to a healthier, happier and more productive society. If you are interested in exploring this topic in more detail for yourself or your organization, please contact Michèle Barnett Berg at michele.berg@mcgpartners.net
Michele Barnett Berg is a senior vice president, executive coach, leadership developer, and faciliator at MCG Partners. With more than two decades of human capital consulting experience, including leadership and talent development, management and development planning, executive on-boarding, teambuilding facilitation, organizational optimization and design, executive search and talent assessment. She has worked with a variety of clients and organizations in the private and public sector, as well as with academic and executive education institutions.
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