The Discipline of Sleep
When I”m overloaded with work, the first thing I do is cut my sleep short. Waking doesn’t require an alarm clock, I have cats who believe that first light means food, so lacking opposable thumbs, they wake me. The earlier the sun comes up, the earlier I get up.
Getting to the heart. © Quinn McDonald, watercolor pencil on paper. 2012, All rights reserved.
Trouble is, I’m a night person. I can easily work till past midnight, but not if I am up at first light, now happening around 5 a.m.
I cannot burn the candle at both ends any more. Sure, it makes a lovely light, but a lovely light is no longer enough. I need combustion to fuel the day. So, I’m forcing the discipline of an earlier bed time. It rarely works, but it’s necessary.
Self-discipline is rarely amusing or fun. But it is the heart of success, whatever your success might be. Without a good rest, without rich and complex dreams, we become shaky and weak. It’s harder to think, to plan, to appreciate, to imagine the future. It’s impossible to concentrate, do good work.
Unfortunately, I’m not one of those splendid people who can live on five hours of sleep. I need seven, and eight is welcome.
Knowing what you need and giving it to yourself is not self-indulgence. It is a discipline.
What discipline do you need to nurture yourself with?
—Quinn McDonald is a creativity coach whose energy drains without enough sleep. There is always a well that needs filling, isn’t there?
Filed under: Coaching, In My Life, Opinion Tagged: self-discipline, sleep
