Regular nightly sleep is critical for ongoing good health and new research shows that lack of sleep can lead to weight gain, increased accidents, and poor reaction time, plus increased stress and elevated blood pressure.

Missing sleep leads to poor decision making and affects everything we do: rushing when we should be methodical, forgetting important procedures, loss of attention (such as when driving), not having the energy to exercise, poorer reaction time, higher stress levels, elevated blood pressure, and inability to adapt to change. These things lead to accidents in the short term, and poor health in the long term.

A good night’s sleep is critical for proper function of the brain, immune system, endocrine system, digestion, energy and recovery from injury. Sleep gives us the will to stick to our mission to achieve lifestyle changes.

If you’re not sleeping soundly or sleeping enough, we recommend:

• Turn the clock away from you on the nightstand so that if you do wake up you’re not watching the time.
• Don’t bring your work home with you or take it to bed with you.
• Control mental distractions if you wake during the night. Counting sheep is more than an old wives tale; it actually helps to put you back to sleep if you count backwards from 100.
• Avoid caffeine after dinner.
• Don’t overdo on the alcohol. It may make you doze off quickly but as it metabolizes it will interrupt your sleep deep into the night.