Sleep - I need it NOW
When I was involved in building a career, I remember thinking, "Please, let me get some sleep." Balancing worship, family, AND all the demands of a job can leave little time for sleep. Continual lack of sleep doesn't usually overtly show on us but the toll is heavy on us mentally, physically, and emotionally.
I used to work emergency situations where employees would stay awake for days. For a couple of days adrenaline would keep them going. Stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, and anti sleep aids would be used. Eventually, they would be running on empty but the strange thing is they didn't know it showed. The more they were deprived of rest, the more they were sure they were just fine. I have experienced this and it's true. Finally, we had to set "rules" about taking rest because no one was capable of making the judgment past a certain point.
Continual sleep deprivation (although more subtle) is the same. You don't see or realize you are not performing as well, that your reactions are not as evenly tempered, that your thought process isn't as sharp. Even though some periods of kickin', thought provokin', adrenaline high creativity can be useful, on a regular basis your body and mind (young or old) will be affected.
As Christians, we sometimes forget God expects us to take care of ourselves. He gives us this complicated machine with the instruction manual. Yet, many workers think they can run this engine with no maintenance, no rest, and no thought until one day it starts to run ragged. The performance slips, there are certain physical and mental irregularities, and for some, it breaks down.
Why not set "rules" for your sleep? Because we know you will not always be rational when sleep deprived, set up rules ahead of time and ask a friend (or family member) to remind you when they see the warning signs your tank is running on empty.
Believe me: YOU WILL NOT PERFORM TO YOUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL when you are constantly sleep deprived. The point is not who can work the longest and hardest hours but who can do the best job over the long haul. Case in point: Psalm 127:2 "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."
I used to work emergency situations where employees would stay awake for days. For a couple of days adrenaline would keep them going. Stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, and anti sleep aids would be used. Eventually, they would be running on empty but the strange thing is they didn't know it showed. The more they were deprived of rest, the more they were sure they were just fine. I have experienced this and it's true. Finally, we had to set "rules" about taking rest because no one was capable of making the judgment past a certain point.
Continual sleep deprivation (although more subtle) is the same. You don't see or realize you are not performing as well, that your reactions are not as evenly tempered, that your thought process isn't as sharp. Even though some periods of kickin', thought provokin', adrenaline high creativity can be useful, on a regular basis your body and mind (young or old) will be affected.
As Christians, we sometimes forget God expects us to take care of ourselves. He gives us this complicated machine with the instruction manual. Yet, many workers think they can run this engine with no maintenance, no rest, and no thought until one day it starts to run ragged. The performance slips, there are certain physical and mental irregularities, and for some, it breaks down.
Why not set "rules" for your sleep? Because we know you will not always be rational when sleep deprived, set up rules ahead of time and ask a friend (or family member) to remind you when they see the warning signs your tank is running on empty.
Believe me: YOU WILL NOT PERFORM TO YOUR HIGHEST POTENTIAL when you are constantly sleep deprived. The point is not who can work the longest and hardest hours but who can do the best job over the long haul. Case in point: Psalm 127:2 "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."
posted by Diane Gibson at
8:13 AM
