How many times have you said, “I’m Exhausted?” I think I say it at least once a day. Arianna Huffington said I need more sleep and I believe her. Actually, it just felt like she was talking to me because I rarely get more that six hours of sleep on any given night. The truth is, between my day job, blogging and a big family, I probably average five hours a sleep each night. So, I better learn to get a lot more productive because for the month of July, I’m committing to no less than seven hours of sleep each night. Watch Arianna’s video:Β How to succeed? Get more sleep
The 30 day challenge was a complete success. I had almost no trouble sticking to 7+ hours of sleep each night and it DID make a difference. I actually got 8 hours most night, especially in the second half of the challenge, and my productivity increased, as well as my creativity. At one point I even tweeted that I felt like a superhero from everything I was getting done. Sleep is highly underrated, we need sleep to think straight and get things done.
Why a public 30 day challenge
I’ve admired people like Matt Cutts for the self control they exhibit on their challenges. I highly recommend you watch this 3 minute video by Matt: Try something new for 30 days. Once it’s public, we’re more likely to follow through. I’d hate to write a post next month giving a bunch of excuses why I failed. I’d much rather post on the success, how I did it and how much more productive I’ve become.
There are many good reasons for things like thirty day challenges. Just off the top of my head they are:
- Wide support from our peers
- 30 days is enough time to see real results
- A month long commitment is habit forming for long term self improvement
- Others may be inspired to commit to a self improvement quest themselves
The Challenge
So it’s simple, for the next month, beginning Monday, July the 1st., I’ll get by butt to bed by 11pm on weekdays. That gives me a only a couple of hours for my online work.
The second part of the challenge… Kick it up a notch! I don’t want to sacrifice productivity for rest so the best way to insure that doesn’t happen is to increase my output. More posts, more social media, more traffic and interaction. Oh yeah, next month I’ll have a lot of inspiration for you. π
If I can do it, anyone can
I work about 60 hours a week locally, run this blog, record our videos, send our newsletter twice a week, write content for the blog, promotions and social media. Not to mention everything else like keyword research, graphic/ image development and other behind the scenes work.
The ultimate goal
The goal behind the challenge is that I become more focused and productive for the 30 days. I believe it’s a healthier alternative than staying up until 1am, or even 3am at times, mindlessly clicking away because I’m simply too tired to stay focused. Tired people make mistakes and I can’t afford those mistakes because I’m viewed by many as a blogging superhero. π I’m joking of course but, seriously, mistakes take up a lot of time. That wasted time would be better used for rest and rejuvenation. I don’t believe I’ve ever used that word before,Β rejuvenation, but I’m going to be living it for the next month.
Anyone with me?
This post isn’t an attempt to recruit people into my 30 day challenge, it’s something I’m going to do myself. With that said, anyone is welcome to take this challenge, or any other commitment for that matter. It would be awesome if this helped other bloggers get more enjoyment from their blogs while improving it at the same time.
About Brian D. Hawkins
Great post and couldn’t agree more… I am committed to 7 hours a night, been awhile since I have done that regularly, would be good to rejuvenate myself.
I’m not surprised Carly, I expected you to understand the value of a well rested body and mind. π
I’ve been working on this one Brian for a few weeks now and am doing about 7-8 hrs. a night now. I used to be doing 4-6 hrs. I’ve also began exercising more. I should be headed for the track now but am giving myself another 20 minutes π I do feel better with more sleep and feel I’m a bit more productive surprisingly. I worried how I would get it all done. Good luck with yours, love your pic!
That’s great to hear Lisa, that’s what I’m hoping for; to feel better and be more productive. Thank you for that. π
It is hard to balance a busy work life and on top of that a secondary work life at home. It leaves no time for ….anything! Sleep is about the only thing you get to do besides that depending on your dedication! I understand where you’re coming from and just know your not alone on that! – Scott Craighead
Thanks Scott, I appreciate that. I completely understand your statement, ” It leaves no time for Γ’ΒΒ¦.anything.” It sounds funny but it’s so true.
Thanks for this post. Online marketing is a field where blinking is forbidden – however you do have to rest once in a while! Enjoy your next 30 days! LOL
Thanks Arun, that’s pretty funny, blink. lol
Great idea. I look forward to reading more on this challenge.
Thanks Carmen, I plan on a followup post next month.
Wow, at first when I read this I thought how hard it could be to challenge yourself to sleep well. And then I started thinking about how long have I been sleeping a day during the last year. Actually, you got me thinking hard now.
Sounds good Mike, take a sip of the kool aid and join me. π
Gee Brian, I would write a good comment, but I think I should go take a nap instead.
At 118ΓΒ° in Vegas today, you might want to forget about the blankets for that nap. OMG, I just checked and it’s still 109ΓΒ° at 7 PM your time. Sleep isn’t going to make you feel rested and alert, not in that heat.
I wish you luck with it, but it’s not going to be easy. I’ve been able to give up certain foods for 30 to 60 days as an experiment but the longest sleep test I’ve been able to complete is 5 days.
Thanks Mitch, but I got this. I have 20 mins right now to reply to all of these comments, the comments from today’s post, do a little promotion, work on the newsletter, take my dog out and watch the rest of “Under The Dome”. Not a problem. lol
I have fibromyalgia, a weird condition that makes it really important for me to get 8 hours of sleep. (The problem is that I also have insomnia, which explains why I am typing this at 3 in the morning. I’m self-employed, so I can work in the middle of the night if need be, but that’s a bigger challenge for most people.) Still, I can testify that 8 hours of sleep a night is definitely well worth whatever changes you have to make to achieve it. I used to get by on 5-6 hours, like most Americans, and I am definitely NICER and happier now that I am committed to getting my sleep.
Thank you Lynn, that’s very encouraging. I’m glad you’re happier and I can’t imagine you not being one of the nicest people on the net. π
Brian maybe you should also look into Meditation, i think it will come very handy in your challenge,
Meditation reduces stress levels and alleviates anxiety, it also clears the mind,
you’ll be more focused and more energetic and it have tons of other health benefits.
i believe it can help you with your challenge, and as long as your changing habits, why not adopt new health improving ones!
Best of luck!
Thanks Mitch, that sounds worth looking into. I actually don’t have any trouble falling asleep, I just need to shut the computer down and go to bed. π
Good luck with your 30 day challenge Brian. I don’t think I would be able to do this. I have to work until I am completely exhaust, Otherwise I cannot sleep. I just lay awake for hours thinking.
I keep saying I don’t have any troble sleeping Larry, but now I’m wondering if that’s because I go to bed completely exhausted, like you said. I guess time will tell. Thanks for all the sharing. π
Hey Brian –
Hopefully you’re sleeping as I’m writing this (which is what I should be doing myself).
Great topic – I wrote a post last month on a CNN story re: the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial against his promoter. It was all about his 60 days (or nights) of propofol.
What I wasn’t aware of was the anesthesia interrupted or prevented REM cycles – so he went without REM for 2 months. Insane.
I’m a half-insomniac myself, but what I’m becoming more and more convinced of is that a good night’s sleep isn’t just a luxury – it’s a necessity and probably one of the best things you can do to improve your health and productivity.
Good luck with your challenge!
I read that too Brad, that Michael Jackson wasn’t getting the REM sleep he needed. I think you’re right, it’s necessary. When I was younger I was able to pull an allnighter, drink a little coffee and keep going. Now I get so tired I makes mistakes, forget things and can’t think. I already feel more alert throughout the day with the added sleep. Speaking of which, it’s about that time. I have 15 mins in order to get 7 Β½ hrs. tonight.
I admire your commitment to your new goal. I’m sure we would all see improvements if we increased our daily sleep by just one hour. Good luck and please let us know how it goes!
Thanks for the encouragement Paul, so far so good. I’m a third of the way into it and getting closer to 8 hours a night on most days and never less than seven.