Beauty Sleep

My friends tell me that I need to stop working so much. My mom worries that I spend an awful lot of time at my computer – almost every time she calls me on the telephone I begin the conversation with “Hold on, I need to save this document.”

So this past weekend I decided to take it easy. I worked only half the day Saturday. I saw a movie. I took a walk along the river… The weather was perfect for spending time outside: record-setting warmth and lots of sunshine.

On Sunday, I worked, but only for a few hours. I was really getting into this “taking it easy” thing, getting some R&R, you know? I had the sense that I would begin the new week relaxed, rested and focused. And then a funny thing happened…

I slept for 12 hours.

How could that happen? I was relaxed! I took a break! When I first awoke (realizing that it was many hours past my 6:00 o’clock alarm) I was stunned. Then I panicked: how would I get everything done? It’s not like I had to be at “the office” because I work at home, but still I felt like I was beginning my work week behind schedule.

As I got started writing, I wondered why it upset me so much that I had slept for 12 hours. I kept thinking about how most Americans say they can get by on less than 7 hours sleep per night. Do they know something I don’t? Do they have more willpower?

I think that Americans are caught up in false competition: who can get the most done on the least sleep. Never mind whether what they “do” is relevant or helpful or done well – more is almost always seen as better… except when it comes to sleep.

It occurred to me that perhaps I slept 12 hours because I needed it. Maybe all that sunshine was really good for me. I did a little research on the Internet and found out that lack of sleep is not, after all, a sign of character strength – in fact it can really catch up with a person.

So I say, get some rest. I know I’m feeling better after those peaceful 12 hours. (The dream about Michael Jordan didn’t hurt, either!)

Until next time,

Conna