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Suffer from insomnia lately?  According to the National Sleep Foundation, 48% of Americans occasionally suffer from insomnia while 22% suffer every or almost every night.  Many of these sleepless nights can be directly attributed to manageable business concerns.

There are many things that can manifest fear in the heart of even the most stalwart business executive. Surveys tend to be the best vehicle to uncover what potentially can impact your business.  I recent saw a very effective use of this technique from EiQ Networks where they completed almost 300 surveys and produced an infographic called “What Keeps IT Pros Up At Night.”  Effective surveys will uncover the cues, responses and impacts which may lead to your sleepless night.  Unfortunately, these cues, responses (routines) and impacts are usually part of a repeating pattern, better know as a habit.

Human nature tends to have us following preconceived paths whenever specific cues prompt expected rewards.  In his book “The Power Of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Business An In Life” Charles Duhigg provides many examples of the habit cycle in action as well as methods to employ to change your routine.

 

For those of you who still prefer the sleepless night in stead of the effort required to change your habits, the National Sleep Foundation also documented why insomnia is something we should all avoid:

  • “People with insomnia are four times as likely to suffer from depression than people who sleep well.
  • Lack of sleep due to insomnia may contribute to illness, including heart disease.
  • Safety on the job, at home, and on the road may be affected by sleepiness.
  • People with insomnia may miss more time from work or receive fewer promotions.
  • After a poor night’s sleep, many people report accomplishing fewer daily tasks and enjoying activities less.”

Moral of the story?  Know what it is that may lead you to your sleepless night and protect against that with proper planning and proactive execution.