Before you take that next sip of coffee…read this post! No, don’t hear me saying coffee is bad. I love coffee. But, if we’re gonna truly win in finding rest at work and at home, we’re going to need to look to God’s word.
So, enjoy your bold coffee brewed hot or cold. Heck, sip it while reading this post. But, realize the importance the habit of rest plays in our daily impact on those around us.
Let’s do something super fun. Let’s talk about sleep.
Question: When’s the last time you felt fully rested—seriously?
I’m a practical guy at heart. I want to know what works and what doesn’t. I don’t want someone to tell me my kids should be the most important part of my day, to point out the lies I hang onto, and then to leave me hanging without some practical tips of what to do to help.
So, over the next few weeks, I will not be the guy who leaves you hanging. Well, at least not for long. I’ll cover six (6) of what I think are the most practical habits we most often overlook.
For each of the six habits, I’ll give you some practical habits you can implement in your life to help you have the energy you need for both work and home. Are you ready?
The first one is rest. We simply need to get more rest. How can we do that? Well, sleep is a good start. : )
Get more sleep.
I don’t know you personally, but I know it’s a strong possibility you need to get more sleep than you are presently. Adults should get at least seven hours of sleep per night according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society. If you read “seven hours of sleep” and laugh aloud—this post is for you! ; )
The reality is that many adults do not get this much sleep. A study from the Center for Disease Control showed that 35 percent of American adults are getting less than the seven hours recommended.
There are some key factors to help you determine if you are getting adequate sleep. You may not be getting enough sleep if you find yourself running very low on energy in the middle of the day, struggling to keep your eyes open in the evening or being overly irritable with people. Sleep is one of those things we tend to cut short when life gets busy.
It may seem easier to stay up a bit later to get one last thing finished, but that extra time awake can come at a high cost.
Jesus modeled and taught healthy habits of rest. After the disciples returned from their two-by-two mission Jesus sent them on in Mark 6, He told them to rest. Mark 6:31 says, “And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Jesus knew what they needed because He had created them, and He was serving alongside them.
Sleep may be the most spiritual thing you can do.
“Sleep may be the most spiritual thing you can do.”
So how do you increase the hours you sleep?
First, plan your sleep. I know that sounds strange, but we calendar and plan the things that are important to us. If you want to truly get more sleep, you’re going to have to come up with a self-imposed time to go to bed and time to get up.
Second, identify your “sleep-killers.” I’m not talking about a new horror movie. A sleep-killer is anything that keeps you from getting the sleep you need. It may be a Netflix series you’re hooked on, a book you must read “just one more chapter” in or even a light outside your bedroom window. Identify your sleep-killers and address them appropriately.
We’ll talk about habit #2 in the coming days. Until then, get some rest!
Question: When’s the last time you felt fully rested? Seriously. Tell us in the comments section below, tweet us @manhoodjourney or you can always email me.
