Getting untired

I’m tired.

Not that tired of doing a particular thing. It’s the mental and physical tiredness by lack of proper sleep that I described last week.

Thankfully, I’m getting better through taking SomiLax pills each evening plus a jokingly significant number of sleep preparations steps.

1. 9 PM auto-lock my phone
2. Blue-light shifted the phone at sunset
3. Changed sleep partners
4. Closed curtains such to minimize light passage
5. Closed doors and windows to reduce noise
6. Drank alcohol
7. Friendly day-end conversations
8. Had sex
9. Hiked 7-kilometers and climbed 300-plus meters
10. Increased mattress softness
11. Keep the phone at least a meter from my head
12. Meditated
13. Moved rattling cups off of the refrigerator
14. Reduced blanket or comforter weightage
15. Reduced computer and reading time before bed
16. Slept alone
17. Took sleep aides
18. Turned off the bathroom fan
19. Turned off the AC
20. Turned the bed mattress
21. Unplugged the TV
22. Unplugged the Wifi
23. Wrote down jarring thoughts

For the past two years, I recognize that when morning starts slowly or not all, and my mind distractedly wanders it’s typically as I’m not well rested. Worse, the more tired I become, the harder good sleep comes.

These days, of my daily habits, those towards sleeping well have become critical because they affect my well-being and ability to impact others positively.

While I might not be a bomb squad technician anymore where the wrong step or wire-cutting has a less-than-optimal result, poor sleep affects judgment. And, being an executive with 90-plus people on their team, a misunderstanding or poor update can be just as painful.

So fellow leaders, be proactive about taking care of yourself and your team by consciously making habits to sleep well.