I often times enjoy long stretches of motivation that result in a consistent, clear focus on my part, which inevitably brings on positive results. But, right now, I don’t want to talk about the results of consistent, clear focus, but instead I want to focus on the long stretches of motivation and how to keep them from being derailed.
There are many ingredients involved in actually meeting the goals that we set for ourselves every day. But the one I want to mention today is the one that sets the foundation for our physical and mental capabilities. It’s sleep. And not just any sleep but consistent, sound, rejuvenating sleep.
A good night’s sleep to someone with big dreams and the goals set to reach them is as essential as water to a thirsty plant. Without it you will wilt and become just like the other parched plants in the garden. Your ability to stay optimistic, to push on even when others give up, is reliant on the kind of mental and physical restoration that a good night’s sleep has to offer.
You know what I’m talking about. Just think about those days when you get up after sleeping soundly through the night, dreaming about whatever floats by. You get up and just know that it’s going to be a good day! The air seems a little fresher, the sun a little brighter and everything just feels effortless. This is the result of your mind and body having been repaired from the previous days abuse. This kind of sleep renews all that’s good in your body so you will have ample amounts to take on the day ahead. The feel good chemicals in your brain are restored so you can see the glass as half full and find ways of filling it even higher. This is the recipe for success, the nourishment for progress.
Now let’s take a look at the more common scenario. You go to bed late, your mind spinning with ideas, worries and other leftovers of the day. You snacked all night, had that big slice of cake after dinner, so you feel kind of full and restless. You fall asleep without too much trouble but end up tossing and turning all night. You keep having to get up to go to the bathroom. You think to yourself, “Maybe I shouldn’t have had those two beers right before bed.” You finally really fall asleep only to be shocked awake by your alarm clock. Your eyes are burning and you feel like you’ve been hit by a Mack truck. You get out of bed only to find that your legs aren’t working quite like they should. The sun might be “shining a little brighter” but not in a good way. It’s more like a laser beam to your eyes, blinding you as you maneuver through the hallway. Ready to take on the world? At this point you’re not even sure is you can take on the shower!
OK, this might be an extreme example (or it might not be for some) but the point is the same; we NEED sleep if we truly want to reach our goals. Without a good night’s sleep we can’t even dream the dreams let alone have what it takes to pursue them. So take a long look at your sleep patterns and decide for yourself if they are adequate to help you stay motivated and moving forward. If they aren’t I would strongly suggest that you make fixing this problem a high priority. Because if you don’t, you will be just another wilting plant in the garden of life.
I will be getting more into the how-to’s of good sleep in later posts so stay tuned.
Thanks for sharing.