We live in a day in time where work ethic is at an all time high. We find ourselves working sixty to eighty hours a week, operating on lack of sleep. We often find that we don’t have the energy nor the stamina to sustain the task at hand. Our bodies just aren’t meant to run twenty hours a day operating off only four hours of sleep.

I’ll be the first to raise my hand in agreement, there was a time when I felt like I was quote on quote “superman.” I thought, “Oh sure I’m 29 years old, I only need a few hours of sleep to recharge.”

With the hustle and bustle of our busy schedules, we’ve placed such a high demand on ourselves to deliver more work. And we place less importance on getting the proper amounts of rest. In fact, studies show that lack of sleep is one of the major contributors to the sense of grogginess that you may feel.

Do you find yourself operating off a minimal amount of sleep in order to meet the demand of the day?

Well, if this applies to you, you may find yourself in what I like to call “the superman mentality.“

An example of someone who has the superman mentality is someone who simply places a high demand on work and less demand on rest. They fit the description of a work-a-holic who runs and runs and relies on their inner power and will to carry them from day to day.

Those who have the superman mentality often resort to high levels of caffeine intake or energy drinks. They intake large amounts of sugar, which in turn leaves hearts racing and possibly even a sense of anxiety. No wonder we’re more stressed today than ever before.

There’s nothing wrong with having a great work ethic, but a problem arises when we devalue the importance of sleep and substitute it by dosing up on numerous cups of coffee and insanely large cans of Red Bull.

Over a period of time, you are doing yourself a disservice and causing enormous wear and tear on the body. You may say “Well Jarrod, I’m strong willed- I may wake up a little sleepy and tired but once I’m on my feet, nothing can stop me.”

That’s a great mentality to have, but is it worth the cost of jeopardizing your sleep? Is it worth sacrificing your health?

It’s important to pay attention to your body. When you notice stress building up, don’t continue to work yourself into a grave.

Remember, balance is key; Experts recommend that we get 8-9 hours of sleep a night. They even suggest that we make time for an afternoon nap.

I encourage you to put down that extra cup of coffee. Put away that Red Bull. Go the natural way, award yourself with the right doses of sleep.

I’m reminded of how a doctor treats a patient. When doctors see improvement and decide that the time is right for the patient to go off medication, they will wean patients off the medicine. For instance, if the patient is on 100mg of XYZ, the doctor might decide to take them down to 50mg then down to 25mg. Or if the patient is taking two tablets a day, the doctor may take them down to one tablet a day then a half-tablet until the patient no longer has a need.

What am I saying? If you require three cups of coffee a day, cut down to two and then to one. If you’re addicted to high amounts of sugar, wean yourself off energy drinks. Decide to get a smaller can rather than the larger one. The intent here is that you eventually wean yourself off these caffeine/sugar “medications” all together.

The big idea is that you pay attention to your body. Remember, it all comes down to a decision. You can choose to burn that midnight oil and place unneeded long-term stress on your body, or you can decide that your overall health is important and give your body the proper amounts of rest that it needs. Let go of the ‘superman mentality‘ today and watch as your stamina grows to higher heights and deeper depths as you charge forth on your journey of life!

Photo credit: Fonzie’s cousin

Share

Related Posts

• October 25, 2010 -- What Is Your Fix? (0)
• August 30, 2010 -- There Is Rest In Jesus (0)
• June 27, 2011 -- The Greatest Stress Reliever (0)
• April 13, 2012 -- Accepting the Opposition (Video) (0)
• April 12, 2012 -- Take the Healthy Approach (0)