Sleep Your Way To Better Finances

Posted on April 25, 2008

With the car breaking down on Sunday and still having a ton of work to do for the 149th Carnival of PF, I ended up only getting 8 hours of sleep on Sunday night. I can survive, and ten years ago I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. The thing I noticed for the next 48-72 hours was how much that lack of sleep effected my whole life. I was much more pessimistic, less energetic, less patient, less productive, and grumpy. Since I have been getting fairly consistent sleep for about two years, I didn’t realize how good I felt. I have even felt more energetic and rested since I went mostly vegetarian and have been eating healthier. When we constantly deprive ourselves of sleep we tend to acclimate to limitations on how we feel, how we act, and how much we can get done. Changes, both positive and negative, take a while to show themselves. During that time we easily forget how we feel until we experience something different sometime down the road. Those differences can have a huge impact on every area of our lives, espcially our finances. Below is a list of ways that our finances can be directly affected by lack of sleep:

Increased food costs. When we are tired we tend to eat out a lot more or by more expensive pre -packaged food.
Increased risk of accidents and sickness. This includes driving and normal around the house type injuries. These types of setbacks can cost money for medical services and oppurtunity cost at work and other endeavors.
Lower self control. The lack of control can lead to increased extraneous spending and debt.
Lack of energy and productivity. This means no energy to sell stuff on eBay or Amazon or to invest in other extra income tasks, perform well at work, or invest in budgeting and financial planning and learning.
Lose of creativity and intellectual prowess. Have you been stuck on how to solve a money problem? Well, research shows you really could find the answer in your sleep.
Grumpiness and impatience with others. This means less communication and teamwork in a marriage or with people who can keep you accountable. It means less satisfying relationship which will directly effect happiness and ultimately your wallet.
Pessimism and depression. In just a few days, I saw how quickly my outlook was effected in negative ways. Getting out of debt and having financial discipline isn’t easy and you need all the help you can muster.

So next time that you want to stay up late to watch some movie you have seen 5 times already, play a Wii game, or spend some not so productive time on the internet, remember what it might cost you. Some of you may be thinking that it doesn’t matter how much sleep you get because you feel about the same no matter what. I will tell you that I used to feel the same way, until with the Rockette’s help, I was able to consistently go to bed and wake up at similar times for an extended period(months). I didn’t realize how good I had been feeling, until I didn’t get enough sleep and felt like my old self again. If you are getting around 8 hours of sleep consistently and you still feel bad, it might be worth having some sleep tests done to make sure there aren’t any apnea or other sleep issues.

There is plenty of research on the benefits of sleep, but I don’t think we even need to go there. In my experience a little experimentation and anecdotal evidence will give us all the ‘research’ we need. Solve your sleep problems and your finances will most likely show a marked improvement.

» Filed Under Careers, Debt Elimination, Happiness, Health, Marriage, Spending

No Thanks In Thanksgiving But I Am Grateful

Posted on November 25, 2007

The unthankful heart… discovers no mercies;
but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and,
as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
-Henry Ward Beecher

As I drove home from the second of our family’s Thanksgiving meals, I was struck by the fact that I hadn’t given thanks for much of anything. WOW, on a day that the US is supposed to collectively express gratitude for everything in our lives, I hadn’t let the spirit of the Thanksgiving change me. I was so wrapped up in the business of the day that even the prayers of Thanksgiving before meals went in one ear and out of the other.

I would love to blame the whole thing on allowing myself to be too busy, but if I am honest with myself, I am not a grateful person. Not ungrateful to the point that I abuse the blessings I have been given, but ungrateful in a “I just don’t think about it” way. I can try to justify it with soft words, but ungrateful is ungrateful.

The frustrating part is that I have so so much to be thankful for: awesome wife, child, job, wealth, energy, passion, and freedom just to name a few.

It’s time to change the orientation of my heart. I don’t want to be that person anymore. It doesn’t align with who I want to be and where my life is going. My financial dream is to give money away, and that doesn’t happen unless I change my heart. Next Thanksgiving look different, but I am not going to wait that long to change my. Now is the time.

While researching the benefits of gratitude I came across a list of four things that anyone can start right now to start producing a grateful heart :

“Maintain a gratitude journal. Emmons’ research showed that people who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercise more regularly, report fewer physical symptoms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and maintain greater optimism about the future.
Create a list of benefits in your life and ask yourself, “To what extent do I take these for granted?” Some people need such concrete visual reminders to maintain mindfulness of their gratitude, explains Emmons.
Talk to yourself in a creative, optimistic, and appreciate manner, suggests Sam Quick, PhD, of the University of Kentucky. This could entail simply reflecting on things for which you’re grateful or, if you’re facing a challenging situation, seeing how it can ultimately be beneficial. For instance, having to cope with particularly difficult people in your job or neighborhood can improve your patience and understanding.
Reframe a situation by looking at it with a different, more positive attitude, offers Quick. He provides this example: Rather than seeing his 6-year-old daughter as cranky, irritable, and troublesome, a father might reach the conclusion that the youngster is tired and needs rest.”*

I am going to start the process by doing a gratitude journal entry on Sunday mornings. I will start by speaking out loud and writing down the items that I am thankful for. I will start with this small concrete measurable task and see where the growth of gratitude takes me. I know it will change my life and my perspective, and I welcome the change! The first entry in the journal will be about how I am grateful for not being grateful on Thanksgiving and the spirit that awoke me to the notion! It’s going to change my life.

*Source : Boost Your Health With a Dose of Gratitude (WebMD)

» Filed Under About Me, Happiness, Materialism

Strengthen Your Abs and Burn Calories with No Effort

Posted on June 2, 2007

A funny thing happened as I was about to get in the shower this morning, I noticed that there was a little definition to my upper abs. I am not talking about a Muscle and Fitness 6-pack here, but maybe a 1-2 pack developing! You’re thinking “big deal”………the trick is that I haven’t worked out in months.

How did I do it? With the ingenious invention of rubber and air shown on the left. That’s right, I started sitting on a plain exercise ball at work(not the odd contraption to the right).

The transition started when I got tired of sitting on a chair at my computer for 8 hours a day. I tried standing at work for a month or two, and that was good most of the time. The only downside was when you were tired or really didn’t feel like standing. Changing the desk to sitting level wasn’t an easy task.

Then I came across this great article over at Gearfire, and I was sold.

It has been a little over a month since I ordered a Valeo (75cm) exercise ball from Amazon for a little over 11 dollars(free shipping with Amazon Prime). The ball came with an adequate pump, measuring device, and exercise poster. I brought it into work and pumped it up, and decided to jump right in. I will warn you that the pump makes an annoying whistling sound for the 10 minutes it take to pump up. The pumping created a lot of inquisitive visitors to my cubicle. Being in moderate physical shape I ditched my chair and sat on the workout ball 40 hours a week. It has been about 5 weeks, and all I can say is give it a try!

Here is my analysis :

Pros

Happiness Factor - This is one I didn’t see coming. I was smiling as I bounced around on the ball. It is a great feeling receiving happiness from such a little change in your life. As time rolls on this effect may fade some, but it has been the best part of the change for me.

It Works - I don’t have scientific data, but I do have observable subjective data that points to a strengthening of the core and burning of calories. There has been a noticeable change in the composition of my abs and obliques. Less fat and a little more muscle.
More Energy - I only felt tired twice in 5 weeks versus close to once a day in a normal chair. With a little bouncing, energy returns and so does a smile.

No Effort - It is not often that you can hack your life to get positive benefits out of everyday activities. Sitting on the ball hasn’t been strenuous or bothersome at any time. Some people may need to work up to a full day, which would require a little more effort and some fatigue(after that it’s smooth sailing). I am proud to report no falls, although the occasional stumble will inevitably happen.
Stretch Factor - Because of the added mobility, I found myself compelled to do little stretches throughout the day. My hamstrings are especially grateful.

The Talk Factor - It will definitely bring you some positive attention, and some sideward glances. Personally, I have enjoyed the “ball talk” and the influx of people wanting to try it out. Breaking the mold of a traditional business chair will garner you a little attention.

Cons

Odd Factor - The exercise ball solution may not work in all types of business atmospheres or for all people. I enjoy being odd and breaking the ‘rules’ and am decent shape, so it worked for me. I have read some people with back problems who thought it was great.

Insurance Factor - I am not sure companies like the idea that employees could get hurt while sitting.

Doesn’t Force Good Posture - I have read a couple places that sitting on an exercise ball forces good posture, but I don’t think that is true. The ball will definitely remind you much more often to have good posture. It is difficult and maybe a little dangerous to sit on a ball with bad posture, so it forces you to think about good posture often. I guess it is really a positive that it encourages better posture, but my negativity comes from the expectation that it would force good spinal health. I will add that when I sit with bad posture my upper back will get a little tired and stiff.

Given my experience, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. At least a half dozen people said they might try, but none have stepped up to the plate. Will you?

Email or comment if you have any questions, comments, or need some gentle encouragement.

If you aren’t convinced yet to buy a fitness ball as a chair, find some more motivation by watching a hilarious clip from The Office.