How Did You Sleep Last Night?

Dear Friend,

I woke up feeling pretty good today! I was rested and relaxed, and had a productive day. However, today is the first day this week that I've woken up feeling good.

For days I was tossing and turning and waking up during the night, unable to fall asleep again. As a result, I spent several days this week feeling tired, groggy, and crabby. Not to mention lazy...

How did YOU sleep last night?

Adults with ADD often underestimate the importance of sleep. In actuality, getting proper sleep each night is essential to managing adult ADD.

Imagine you are a car, and the amount of sleep you get at night is the amount of gas that gets put in your tank. (Yes, I'm quite fond of this gas tank metaphor! I'm sure many of you have heard me use this metaphor in other contexts, namely my book, and that's because I get a lot of feedback about how it really makes things click for many of you.) Now back to our exercise...

If you go to bed and get proper rest through solid sleep, your gas tank gets filled. And as anyone who owns a car knows, cars always drive better on a full tank. I can't tell you why (maybe a mechanic could?), but it's something we all know to be true.

If, on the other hand, you go to bed and don't sleep well or don't get enough sleep, then you start your day on half a tank. You're still able to drive, but you don't perform as well, and you hit empty a lot sooner in the day than you'd like to.

Think about it. When you haven't gotten a good night's sleep,

• Don't you find yourself running late throughout the day?
• Isn't it really difficult to pay attention at work?
• Doesn't it seem like more of a chore to eat healthy, exercise, and take care of yourself?
• Isn't it harder to motivate yourself to do those household chores, like dishes and laundry?
• Don't you find yourself snapping at people who might not deserve it?

Okay, Jen! You say. You've Made Your Case on Sleep. Now What?

If you frequently have trouble getting a good night's sleep, here are a few tips specifically geared towards adults with ADD:

1. Allow yourself adequate time to wind down before bed. Don't wake up your brain with something stimulating. This means turning off that computer(!), avoiding emotional conversations, and maybe even shutting off the TV.
2. Create a comfortable sleeping environment for yourself. This might include adjusting the temperature in your bedroom, switching to ultra-soft sheets, or investing in light-blocking curtains. Adults with ADD tend to be extremely sensitive, and it's amazing how much little things can make a difference when it comes to your sleeping environment.
3. If all else fails, see your doctor. There are medical options that you can explore with your doctor, such as taking medication or vitamin/herbal supplements, and testing for sleep disorders.

So here's to a good sleep tonight--for me and for you!

How do you deal with sleep problems? What challenges do you notice that result from not getting enough sleep? Please share your thoughts on my blog!

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All My Best , Jennifer Koretsky, Founder, Head Coach & Chief Visionary Officer ADD Management Group, LLC

P.S. I hope you're not reading this an hour before bedtime! :-)