Your Result
Boost your energy through consistent rest
To be happier, consider a habit that will boost your energy through consistent rest.
Why this aim is likely to make you happier
Getting enough—and good quality—sleep is one of the foundational habits that makes other healthy habits easier to maintain. Almost every aspect of life improves with sleep: mood, energy, creativity, productivity. Also, when we don’t get sufficient sleep, we might be more likely to indulge in an unhealthy habit—putting off a task at work, skipping a workout, losing our temper.
Research shows that rest is an essential element of working well and working smart. Working for long stretches without breaks leads to stress and exhaustion, while rest sparks creativity by helping people to make unexpected connections and stay open to new possibilities.
Aims you might consider
Set an alarm to remind you to go to bed on time—and maybe set a snooze alarm, to give you a warning
Get ready for bed ahead of time, so the minute you feel sleepy, you can turn out the light
If your feet are cold, wear socks to help you fall asleep faster
Stay away from screens for an hour before bedtime
Create a bedtime ritual to help cue your brain and body that it’s time to rest
Schedule time to take a nap or rest every day—studies show that this habit can give us a big boost
Keep a journal to write down any nagging thoughts that tend to keep you awake
Avoid caffeine for several hours before bed
Know Yourself Better
Self-knowledge is an essential aspect of happiness, because we can create a happy life only on the foundation of our own nature, our own values, and our own interests.
As you consider ways to boost your energy through consistent, ask yourself:
- Are you a morning person or night person? If you’re a night person, you might look for ways to simplify your morning routine, or start your day later instead of trying to force yourself to go to bed earlier.
- Identify the problem. If you’re consistently not getting enough sleep, or poor quality sleep, what is the cause? Sounds, being too hot or too cold, light getting in, eating too late, watching TV, or racing thoughts can all affect our sleep.
A few notes of caution…
- Many gadgets claim to report on the quality of our sleep, but recent research suggests that what we believe about our rest makes a big difference in how rested we feel—so if a device suggests you slept badly, you might feel unrested. Pay attention to how your technology is affecting you.
- It can be tempting to sacrifice rest for our other aims, such as an early morning workout, an extra hour at the office, another episode of great TV. Remember that you’ll feel more energized, get more done, and feel happier when you’re well-rested.