Intelligent light control for improving
health and productivity
Why sleep is essential for less stress and what to do!
The other day I was asked how to avoid disturbed sleep when
caused by overload. At first, I was going to answer – "by looking at
your sleeping habits" – but no, that is starting at the wrong end. That
is treating a symptom, and the "disease" is still there.
You have to start by looking at what is bugging you, what is stressing you out, right!?
And to do that you need to take a look at the big picture.
The helicopter ride
The metaphor I use for looking at your whole situation is that you take a virtual
helicopter ride over your life. You can fly around yourself, and you can go down and
hover over specific areas where you see particular challenges. It gives you a good
picture of your whole situation and where to put your focus.
The exercise is an eye opener that I use with my clients, and they are always very
delighted because it is just as thought-provoking every time. What will show up?
Often issues that the person did not expect.
It is of course not a quick fix, and it is easier if you make a plan for whatever you want
and need to change. Take a good look at where you are today, where you want to
be tomorrow and from there find how to cross the gap.
Changing the route
Now, this is the real tough part since some of the changes needed might even affect
others in your life. So, you need to find your way out of it, not do what others have
done, nor to do what other people tell you how to solve it, but you need to find out
what your heart wants. Sometimes just knowing what the issues in your life are is
enough to de-stress, at least for a while.
Taking care of your life and making changes takes energy. I bet you have felt
overtired after having had a hard conversation with someone in your life. You feel
completely drained of all energy. I think this is one reason why so many people don't
act and do changes they believe they should do to get a better life. They don't have
the energy to start when in a stressed out situation. They don’t know where and how
to start. Right?
Energy generators
Here is where the lesson about sleep comes in. And also, the lessons about physical
activity and food intake. If you feel you don't have energy, then you can generate it!
Our bodies want regularity around the three issues; sleep, physical activity and food
intake, and they all bring us energy if we perform them.
BrainLit AB Scheelevägen 27 223 70 Lund tel:+46 76-6401070 [email protected] www.brainlit.se
Intelligent light control for improving
health and productivity
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Food is energy and is obvious to most people.
Physical activity is also energy. Yes, it takes energy to do it, but it also
generates energy in large amounts, especially mental energy.
Sleep is maybe the most important energizer of them all. Because during sleep
the body repairs or disposes of damaged cells, and the brain refreshes. While
we sleep, our body takes inventory and does its housecleaning, so to speak.
Sleeping for a healthy life
Sleep is essential for a healthy life. Lack of sleep will cause you to become irritable
and distracted. Lack of sleep is a big stress maker. You can do with one or two nights
without sleep, but if you miss more than that, your job performance will suffer, and
the risk of accidents will increase. Also, the hormone systems ruled by the brain such
as e.g. the immune system and the metabolism disrupts because they need the
sleep to regenerate their systems. There is also a connection between lack of sleep,
obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Improving your sleep
Take a look at your sleeping habits and see if they support you or if they work against
you. The first step towards better sleep is to look at your sleeping situation today. Do
a sleep diary for a week = write down your observations of the night each morning. It
will help you find the weak spots in your sleeping pattern, and it is not until you see
what the problem is that you can do something to correct it.
One example of how to induce productive sleep is to ensure your bedroom is cool
and comfortable. Keep it clean; remove clutter or anything that might disturb your
thoughts, like your constantly buzzing phone. The bedroom is for sleep, not work.
Remember though that you need to care for all three energy generators; food,
physical activity, and sleep to create a healthy, less stressed life!
You can get more free tips on how to increase your health at www.AskDrAnnika.com
To your success and keep smiling!
Dr Annika
Author:
Dr. Annika Sorensen, MD specialized in Family Medicine and Stress Management,
Author, Internation al Speaker, Mentor. Dr. Annika is helping stressed out Business
Leaders to feel less stressed, get more done and create bigger success!
BrainLit is Sweden’s most innovative lighting technology company with a dynamic selflearning system, with built-in feedback, is based on the latest research in lighting and
illumination with a world unique patented software. The indoor lighting is adjusted to
imitate the natural daylight with LED- lighting controlled by sensors connected to the
software. #daylightindoors
BrainLit AB Scheelevägen 27 223 70 Lund tel:+46 76-6401070 [email protected] www.brainlit.se