Sleep it off

Events can often extend well into the night, shortening the time you spend with your head on the pillow.

In addition, you may find that work stresses are keeping you up at night, leaving you pacing the floorboards.

While a bad night’s sleep every once in a while may not seem like a big issue, studies conducted across the globe have shown that there is, in fact, a link between not getting enough sleep and the increased risk of blood pressure, depression, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

Moreover, the studies show that sleeping for longer on just one night does not necessarily make up for the sleep you missed the day before. Even after a short period of poor sleep your health can begin to suffer.

According to thoracic and sleep physician Dr Roger Allen, adults need between seven and eight hours sleep each night.

But with people now working longer, adults are, on average, deprived of approximately two weeks sleep per year – easily enough to have a negative impact on every part of the body.

Dr Allen says sleep is essential for every organ and lack of it affects the immune system, which is why it is so important for us to rest when we have the flu.

Those who struggle to sleep more than five or six hours a night can often fall victim to a series of serious side effects, including hallucinations and mood swings, drowsiness, reduced concentration and increased heart rate variability.

So what can be done? How can you ensure you sleep enough hours every night?

Part of the blame for not being able to get enough sleep lies with lifestyle. Commuting to and from work can be a nightmare, meaning you leave for work earlier and get home later.

In the case of brokers, they are often required to conduct client interviews late into the night, which stops them from getting to bed early.

Experts say the best way to make sure you get enough sleep is to look at your plans for the evening and to think about what might be a reasonable time for you to be able to get to bed – look forward seven hours and make sure you have no appointments at that time or earlier.

Conversely, brokers can look at what time they need to get up in the morning and count back seven hours, adding an extra half hour for you to get ready for bed – that is the time you need to hit the sack.

If you have problems dropping off to sleep, Dr Allen says you should try and find an activity that relaxes you – like reading or listening to music.

Once you have established which activity helps you relax the most, you can get into it right before bed, which should help you nod off sooner.

Whichever method you use to encourage you to drop off to sleep quickly, make sure you do it regularly to ensure you are getting the required number of hours each night.

Remember that if you don’t get enough sleep each night, you could be doing yourself, your body – and therefore your business – serious damage.