Work first, sleep later. No rest for the weary, right? We’ve learned sleep is a necessary evil, a nuisance that gets in the way of our success and productivity. In my work with clients, I harp regularly about the importance of sleep—it is a necessary foundation for mental health and overall wellbeing. But because we tend to think of sleep as a waste of time, a missed opportunity, or an indulgence, we find ways to justify going to bed later and waking up earlier. In fact, getting by on little sleep can become a badge of honor, a way we show people we are strong and capable of doing more with less. Sleep (quantity and quality) impacts health, concentration, attention, memory, mental health, and more. Because of this, I often tell clients that without proper sleep, making significant behavioral change is difficult and progress in therapy can sometimes stall. To get more sleep, we must begin with changing our perceptions of sleep as being unimportant or optional.

Watch this fascinating Ted Talk for more information about how critical sleep is and for tips on getting more of it: http://www.ted.com/talks/russell_foster_why_do_we_sleep#t-1155579

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