Can’t get anything done? Are you making this common productivity mistake?

How often have you heard somebody complain that sleep is such a waste of time and proclaim that they’d get so much more done if they didn’t have to do it? The fact is sleep is a part of life and there is no getting around your mind and body’s need for rest and renewal.

It’s tempting to try and boost our productivity by staying up later or waking up earlier or worst of all, both. People vary in the amount of sleep that they need and just because you read that this or that famous person gets by with four hours of sleep a night, doesn’t mean it will work for you.

You need to respect your need for sleep and plan it into your schedule just as you do everything else. If you don’t have time in your day to get enough sleep, eat or exercise then the answer is to find other things to cut back on rather than shortchange you health and well being.

While you might feel like you are able to get a lot done by burning the midnight oil, the truth is that you’ll be able to get a lot more done and enjoy it more if you are getting plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause the following detrimental symptoms:

• Inability to focus
• Headaches
• Problems noticing details
• Poor judgment
• Lack of creativity
• Increase in errors
• Irritability
• Moodiness

While it might cut your available time in the short term, it’s important that you get into a regular sleep routine both to boost your efficiency and for your future health. With some trial and error, you’ll be able to determine the optimum amount of sleep that your body requires to fuction at its best and design a relaxing evening routine that will give your brain the downtime it needs.

You’ll find that once you’re getting enough good quality sleep, you’ll be able to do more in less time because you’ll be better able to focus and stay on tasks, think creatively, avoid errors and avoid bad moods. Don’t make the misake of going without sleep to try an boost productivity, it’ a short sighted strategy that will cripple you in the long run.

Vincent King is available for hire for various ghostwriting services. He loves to workout four times per week, and lives an active, healthy lifestyle.

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