I am a night owl by nature. Less than helpful when much of even our modern 24hour world runs during daylight hours. It’s a battle my parents fought to change and lost, and one I continually try to keep reasonably in check at least and often fail at also. Most of us fall more naturally into one of two camps … the night owls like me or the early risers. Now that it’s the end of year, lead up to Christmas, work, projects, shopping etc even more of us are either not getting enough sleep or keeping hours that are not really optimal for us.

If you work in the regular world it can be hard to ever catch up on that sleep deficit of late nights and early or regular hours mornings and the benefits of enough sleep is well documented. In fact, I think we can consider them beyond question at this point in time. Improved immunity and wellness. Fewer health disadvantages. Better weight control and skin- it’s important! Higher functioning and productivity. Better mental health. Your body repairs itself while you sleep. It has more time and can do this more easily because it’s not as busy running you. Seriously. Let it rest. It’s for your own good and benefits, not just you but anyone who has to deal with you especially those that have important or meaningful relationships with you.

Now, this is always important – but the reason I bring it up now is that it’s the silly season and so many people are on overload and running on less than adequate sleep. More than is usual even. Even the early to bed, early to rise crew. We touched on this last post and I wanted to lodge this in your brain because at some stage over  Christmas, the New Year and before the business world ramps up again for 2017 we should all get a chance at some extra rest and I don’t want you to miss the opportunity because you hadn’t thought about it – planned for it even. A nap here and there during one of the days off, a snooze after a big feast, an early night when the kids are exhausted. If you get a chance I want you to take it. Because the other end of the spectrum at this time of year is too many of those late nights and long days in the lead up to the end of the year and the festive season.

That’s it for this week. Short and sweet. Enjoy your get togethers as the year ends. Get some extra sleep or naps in when you can.

Always E x

 

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