Small Gains Help When It Comes to Sleep Deprivation

Getting enough sleep is among the greatest challenges that many people face in today's busy world.

Are you chronically short on rest?

If so, you're not alone, AND your energy, productivity, health, and enjoyment of your moments are all suffering for it. And for children, the impact of inadequate rest time is even more debilitating and disturbing.

According to Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children, children today are sleeping about an hour less than they did 30 years ago. This is a change that has a profound negative impact on young people's performance in all areas.

What particularly caught my attention about this was the impact of losing or gaining even a relatively small increment of restorative rest.

Small amounts count

You know how we talk about the big difference that 5, 10, 15 minutes of exercise can make? Well, the same goes for sleep, especially with young people. Here is Mr. Bronson:

You know, the surprise is not that sleep matters, it's how much it matters and how little bits of difference can matter as well. Data shows that "A" students average 15 more minutes of sleep than "B" students, who average 15 more minutes sleep than "C "students, and so on. Every 15 minutes can count.

That is a very telling statistic illustrating the extremely significant impact of your rest on your performance.

Another study

In another study Dr. Avi Sadeh of Tel Aviv University had sixth graders and fourth graders get a little more or less rest than they usually get, for three nights. He then gave them intelligence tests. The sleepy sixth graders were testing out like the fourth graders.

So, a loss of even three nights of rest time for a half hour each night was quite significant.

More information?

Interested in more on this topic? Take a look at the website of the National Sleep Foundation. Here's just one more tidbit - from their section on Myths and Facts About Sleep. No matter what developmental stage you are in, your rest time matters.

Myth: The older you get, the fewer hours of rest you need. 

Fact: Sleep experts recommend a range of seven to nine hours of sleep for the average adult. While sleep patterns change as we age, the amount we need generally does not. Older people may wake more frequently through the night and may actually get less nighttime sleep, but their need is no less than younger adults. Because they may sleep less during the night, older people tend to sleep more during the day. Naps planned as part of a regular daily routine can be useful in promoting wakefulness after the person awakens.

So find time to get the rest you need. Do it for yourself, for your kids, for energy, productivity, and health.

https://ezinearticles.com/?Small-Gains-Help-When-It-Comes-to-Sleep-Deprivation&id=9835015

Finding Your Creative Self

Creativity lives inside of every one of us. For those that think that you do not have a creative bone in your body I am going to disagree with you. I just think you have not found it just yet.

Have you tried every creative activity to see if there is a hint of enjoyment in it. I know one lady who thought the same about herself. She tried everything. Finally, she gave painting class a try.

She found there was a liking to it.

She went back again and again. She became better. She started feeling an inner calling to paint. She felt purpose for the first time in her life. Her painting teacher was amazed at her ever increasing skill level.

The interesting thing was she was in her sixty's. This talent stayed dormant until she decided to try a few things. Now she is selling her painting for thousands of dollars. You may want to give up the search for your creative self.

Give it another shot.

There is someone who is searching for that very thing you can give the world. However, you will have to start digging. I can assure you if you turn over every stone. You will find something. It doesn't have to lead to financial bliss.

The bliss you feel will be right in your heart. You will have found happiness and those around you will appreciate you also. "But I have tried everything." You may be thinking. I thought the same thing

Then I started writing. I found a whole new world opened up for me. Freedom of expression. It' s not easy most days but when I force myself to start, something within me begins to flow. Which brings me to my question for you

Have you ever given writing a shot?

I mentioned a story earlier in this post about a woman who discovered painting in her sixty's. There is another story about a man who was diagnosed with a terminal disease. He was given a few months to live. He picked up his pen and started writing as he thought it would be a good way to support his family when he was gone.

Six months went by. Then a year passed by. He completed four books. He did not die. The books became best sellers.

Sometimes it takes for us to backed against the wall to find out what we love and then do it. My final suggestion to you is if you can't find out what you love. Do something creative until you love it. I can assure you it will leave a lasting impact those around you.


https://ezinearticles.com/?Finding-Your-Creative-Self&id=9826650

Why and How You Need To Be Creative

                   

  

If you suffer from stress and depression, you will be pleased to know that you can do something about it. You need to start by scheduling some relaxation time into your day and do something creative. Not only will you be relaxing, but also stimulating your mind and activating the more creative side of your brain.

Now many people are feeling the need to get back to the basics in order to improve the quality of their lives. A creative moment here and there might be just what you need to recharge your batteries, connect with your inner self and restore your soul. You may say, but I am too busy for this, but believe me, scheduling some time into each day or even week will be well worth your while.

For me, it is scrapbooking, but maybe for you it will be something different. There are many wonderful things to do out there, even if you don't have an artistic bone in your body. Other ideas include: Mosiac, Painting, Pottery, Decoupage, Needle Work or Embroidery, Knitting, Basket Weaving, Beading, Sugar Craft, Gilding, Crochet, Candle Making, Calligraphy, Flower Arranging, Quilling, Pewter... and so on. The list is endless, and you are guaranteed to find something that you will enjoy doing.

The benefits of crafting are endless, including enjoyment, social interaction - if you attend classes, stress relief, instant gratification and self-expression. You will develop your sense of self-worth, and give some value and meaning to your day. Your mind is forced to focus on something unique and nurturing and you can bring back your childlike wonder at colours, shapes and textures. Best of all you can escape to a world away from everyday responsibilities. You will be amazed at your own ability to create new things from scratch.

Here are some suggestions to keep you going when you feel uninspired or have little or no time for yourself:

Write with a different colour pen.

Draw a Flower.

Tie a colourful ribbon around your wrist and think creative thoughts every time you look at it.

Doodle!

Play your music really loudly.

Ask your best friend to come and bake some cookies with you.

Finger Paint!

Troll the internet for pictures to inspire you.

Replace plain buttons on your favourite top with funky or vintage buttons to create a new look.

Cover an old frame with felt to give it a new look.

Do ink blotting like when you were a child.

Colour in a picture.

Duct tape the ends of an old pool noodle together and make a wreath.

Go outside and observe the colour combinations used in nature.

Cut some strips of paper and paper weave them.

This is your life so do what you love, and do it often. And remember this: 'Crafting Forever, Housework Whenever.'

https://ezinearticles.com/?Why-and-How-You-Need-To-Be-Creative&id=8832929

When You Get Good At Programming Yourself And Solving The Tough Problems (By Joshua Clayton)

We all love to win, but who loves to train to win? Work and overcoming procrastination is a tough problem when you do not really want a goal. At best, when something is play and we make a living or achieve something at it, that is ideal. At worst, though, and sometimes there are some of those "at worst things", life is a chore we do not want to deal with. Also, when there are things we would rather be doing than work and the play we want to be doing is destructive or not productive in any good way, that is when we must genuinely find the "silver lining" within that dark cloud of the chore we need (and want) to get done.

So, this is my formula: When I get frustrated or overwhelmed: I step back, look at things objectively, and then attack with strong subjective productivity in a way that I enjoy that makes things go and work better. Sure, I could give harder, more complicated advice about productivity, but we start there in this article and if you want iron grip control as well as enjoyment in any situation, you have got to start there. Also, if life were all enjoyment without obstacles, there would not be a point to it. So, my "other advice" is to grab the lessons and values from everything, even if we do not like it at the time it is happening. That is also what I mean by step back, look at things objectively, and then attack with strong subjective productivity. I mean face it, for every "I really want to do it moment", there are many "we have to do it moments" to genuinely achieve the goal we want to achieve, work is not an exception when we do not like it, but have to do it.

Listen, the best we can expect is to do what we have to do as work to ultimately do what we want to do as our reward. Let that statement sink in, because that is reality always. Genuine resilience, though, comes from wanting to do what we need to do and want to do with equal zeal, excitement and understanding that is motivated from within ourselves. Motivation never comes from outside ourselves anyway, it always comes from within. Tools without motivation are just inanimate objects, however great the tools, that is a bad thing when we expect them to do the work for us without effort. Tools with motivation are great things that work to build something productive, creative and realistically good.

In this article, I hope I gave you some good tools to solve the tough problems in your life, being one of those who is motivated from within, I use all of these formulas and more to keep myself going. So, I give this final advice, build the power consciousness and you will have genuine strength, resilience and greatness.

https://ezinearticles.com/?When-You-Get-Good-At-Programming-Yourself-And-Solving-The-Tough-Problems&id=10168069

Before You Try To Be A Friend To Anyone, Be A Friend To Yourself

Recently in my thinking and living, I made a few more positive changes, changes I feel and know will be permanent. I can honestly say from the vantage point I am at now, that a person who is truly and honestly friendly with themselves can and does create good and great habits in their lives. Bad habits, without matter to how enjoyable they can seem, are bad for you as they are for me and anyone. From smoking to spitting too much or lying, they are bad. Consequences of habits must be thought about and thought about deeply before they are embarked into. But, how many average people think in that manner?

That is how I start my article off, thinking about consequences and making you think about consequences from the first paragraph on. But, to use an old, overused saying: "Honesty is the best policy." I will change that slightly, honesty with yourself and full honesty is the best policy for genuinely getting rid of bad habits. This is where people become their own worst and most lazy, undermining enemy in every way.

To advance in any genuine way, we must all start by being honest with ourselves, and honest at all levels. (I am not an exception.) This is the rule of advancement. If you lie here, and avoid there, you also genuinely stagnate however it goes and it does not matter where else you advance in life and existence or how you "get better". Reality must be faced without flinching for one second, minute or years if you can. I did not say, "be perfect", I just am saying be honest to the best of your ability.

My Dad used to say "I do not play." The above second paragraph is what he meant in the ultimate way. We need to stop playing, be honest with ourselves, ultimately enjoyment will be possible in life. Note, I did not say "genuine play", but I said enjoyment, and I meant feelings of genuine enjoyment. There is a definite difference between playing with life and enjoying your life, if you get where I am coming from so far. So, I will say this breakthrough statement then go on with my article:

"People are as fearful as what they avoid."

That was a simple statement. But, what do I mean by that simple statement? Harold Geneen of ITT stated that facts do not lie, but I am taking that statement a few steps further with that one I said above about avoidance. The more you avoid life and existence, the more fear you have within you, that is what I mean. Your choice, built up courage to face the facts honestly knowing what they are or instant fear without even facing the facts. In so many words that I can say to end this, before you are a friend to anyone, face the facts squarely and honestly and be a friend to yourself.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Before-You-Try-To-Be-A-Friend-To-Anyone,-Be-A-Friend-To-Yourself&id=8417712

Dreaming Ahead 16 of 365 (By Matt Collinson)

Being Zen About Things Helps

A moment to moment decision must be made. Are you going to enjoy what you are doing right now or are you going to be upset about it? A lot of people will say yes, I want to enjoy this moment but... Here is where you can begin to choose it and live with that enjoyment. The reason is up to each of us. Decide why you are doing what you are doing.

If what you are doing makes you completely happy, those around you happy and general society happy then you are probably doing the right thing for your life. Each action that we take toward our future is decided by what we are doing. As we pick small actions that bring us closer to the future we want joy will begin to blossom. Even doing chores around the house can become a thing of enjoyment if we realize why we are doing those chores.

A cleaner more organized lifestyle helps. This doesn't mean that you will not have messy areas in your life. We are given those messy areas because we need those challenges to help us become a better version of ourselves. Throughout our entire life, we are given the opportunity to grow whether we want to or not. To choose that you will grow daily will help your life to become more enjoyable.

One thing I learned while doing some Zen readings was to dive into what I am currently doing. This could be writing, chores or spending time with my kids. It is important to be in the moment when you are trying to be happy about life. Empty all other feelings. Let those feelings go that are hindering your progress. One of the harder feelings that I have yet to get rid of was a temper. For a long time, I would just explode and had no idea why. It became a realization in my life that if I wanted to be a good example for my children I best calm down.

By reading daily I have come to an understanding that I had been looking for. Everything that goes on in my life is up to me. It is my choice to take responsibility for my life. It is my choice to love this life that I get to live. Take the time to appreciate the time that we get to have here on this beautiful planet. Look at all the great creations that mankind has come up with.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dreaming-Ahead-16-of-365&id=9589260