Do you have difficulty falling asleep? Do you regularly wake up in the middle of the night or in the wee hours of the morning and have a problem going back to sleep? Do you experience exhaustion upon waking?Consider yourself one of the 30 million Americans who are suffering from nearly a 100 recognized sleep disorders plus you may bea bona fide, restless and sleep deprived entrepreneur who has been burning the midnight oil more often than not.
Entrepreneurs frequently suffer from this type of ailment aptly called the 'entrepreneur insomnia'. Businessmen can experience this kind of insomnia due to their competitive nature, hyperactive minds and/or just plainly being a workaholic. Having a home-business job inflicts a serious demand on time, competence and a sense of accomplishment. Not to mention, working from your home-office can mean never really leaving your work behind. Conventional hours spent on work is about 12-16 hours per day, which means about 8-12 hours for you to rush through the 'other things' that are important for us to live. Talk about sleep, rest and leisure... these words may sound Greek to you.
However, you have to give sleep the gravity that it requires. Studies have shown that lack of sleep will result to poor functioning of your brain, thus making you less effective and domino effect - reduced work performance. It has been associated with driving accidents, problems at home and poor disposition. As a matter of fact, it is linked to a growing list of mental and other health risks. Just to name a few examples are anger, depression, diseases of the heart, diabetes and obesity. Inadequate sleep not only affects your job but also your personal life and your mental and physical health.
Here's a list to help you break free from this disorder and help you relish life:
1. Stick to your business hours
Know that it is possible to have a 40-hour work week if you choose to. Map out your day and delegate time to be spent on each undertaking. Give yourself buffer time for unexpected tasks. A precise time for opening and reading emails should also part of this list as this could consume time if done throughout the day. Planning your day will help you manage your time.
2. Prioritize
Accomplish each task in an order of priority. Complete the most important things first down to the less urgent matters.
3. Delegate, delegate, delegate
Most start-up/small business owners have a tendency to do everything on their own. This can be grueling and stressful. As an alternative, keep to the tasks that are your forte and delegate the remainder to your staff.
4. Sometimes 'no' can be a Yes
Learn to say 'no' particularly when your hands are full. Assess each project and/or client and distinguish the good from the bad. Focus on those that would be beneficial to your company.
5. Reward yourself
A vacation? A full weekend off? A massage? Reward yourself for every accomplishment you make.
6. Bed time
Sleep and wake up at exactly the same hour every day. It may take some time to condition yourself, but this will work over time. The bedroom should only be for sleeping, do not make it an extension of your office.
Stay healthy and sharp with some ideas from entrepreneurs themselves on SquadHelp! Our community of small business owners and managers know exactly what you're going through.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_E_Belcher
