One change to make you happier & more productive

I've found it. 

I've found the ONE thing that makes my life exponentially better. 

The thing that can help my mood. My performance. My relationships. My Life. 

I don’t know about you, but when I get run down, exhausted, dog-tired, I’m not fun to be around. 

I can fake it for a while. I can pump myself with caffeine and put my best face on and just keep grinding. 

But I get to a point when I just. can’t. 

I get cranky. I feel a lack of motivation. And all I want is SLEEP. 

And then it hit me. Sleep. 

Sleep is what my body needs. My mind craves. But... I just can't seem to get enough of it. 

So, I decided to make a shift. 

I turned off the screens before bed.

There has been so much research that suggests that the blue light from all of those screens is SO bad of you before you go to sleep because your mind thinks it is day time -- and that you should be prepped and ready to keep on working! Um...no.

Here's how my typical night would go: 

I would watch trash TV quality programming in bed, while scrolling aimlessly on Instagram. Looking up, it would be 1am, when I find myself confused as how I spent so much time looking at someone’s brother’s cousin’s sisters engagement party photos and feeling sorry for myself that I’m not staying in a $4,000/night villa over Bora Bora like the Kardashians. Frustrated at my time wasted, I'd open my iPad to try to read an e-book and doze off. Unsuccessful, I'd tossed and turned until about 2:30 and and wake up with a terrible headache, grumpy and NOT ready to start the day off. 

So... I decided to slightly shift my pre-bed routine. 

I climbed into bed around 10pm and put my phone on Do Not Disturb (don't worry Mom - I'll still get your call in the middle of the night -- just won't hear the buzz from a Group Text about Labor Day plans)-- and put the phone away. With the TV off, and just the hum of the ceiling fan to distract me, I read a real.live.book. One that I hold and actually turn the pages. 

My stack of books from the Charlotte Library. On a non-fiction kick right now...

After about 20 minutes, I actually started dozing off with the book in my hand. Without checking my phone for messages or emails, I simply cut off the light and went right to sleep. 

And guess what. 

Changed my life. 

I’m not saying that this is a cure-all. And you know what, sometimes I just want to drift off to sleep watching Bravo reruns. But I actually woke up semi-refreshed. And didn't toss and turn for hours before drifting off to sweet, sweet slumber. 

There are certain nights that I won't be able to control WHEN I go to sleep, but I've realized that I can control HOW I go to sleep - and I really think.

So... if you're having some issues falling asleep - or just fall asleep faster -- try it out. Cut out the TV and phone before bed. I want you in a better mood... and I bet your boss does too!

Let me know how it works out!