A 2004 study by Ullrich Wagner and Jan Born proved that random periods of REM (rapid eye movement) improved problem solving skills by 40%.
A NASA study has also revealed that short naps can improve pilots’ performance by 34%.
One thing we all know is that, when we step on stage or stand up in the conference room to deliver a presentation, our #1 hope is that we’re the smartest, wittiest, best-looking version of ourselves we can be. We don’t always have control over this—blame circadian rhythms or whatever you want, but sometimes we’re just on and sometimes we’re just a little off. But we can control the healthful, restful state of our minds, and that’s controlling a lot.
The aforementioned studies are just two of a great many sleep studies that have demonstrated the profound effects of quality rest on human performance. From studies that show the positive effects of a 20-minute power nap to studies that demonstrate the importance of a full-night’s rest, it’s pretty much indisputable that if we want to do well, we should probably prioritize sleep.
To some, this may come across as counter-intuitive or at least contrary to established habit. We’re all somewhat accustomed to a busy, maxed-out lifestyle. A lot of us picked up some of our worst work habits in college, when the demands of multiple courses with heavy work loads would force us to pull all-nighters cramming for exams or churning out major papers. Our careers are no different, and many of us are in a constant state of “winging it” as we try to be the efficient multi-taskers that society apparently wants us to be.
But while this is the norm in life, it’s not the facts. The facts show that steady, pragmatic, focused execution creates more quality work and promotes creativity and problem-solving. We do worse when we’re exhausted. We do worse when we multi-task (just read any study on multi-tasking, all of you “great multi-taskers” out there).
If you’re starting to get opportunities to present, or if you’ve been presenting for a while and feel like you could be doing more with those opportunities, consider taking a step back and focusing on your resting habits, the amount of focused time you spend on your presentations, and your overall state of relaxation and stability. Presentations aren’t standalone career obligations; they’re part of a bigger picture, just like that college thesis wasn’t a task but a reflection of years of study, synthesis, critical analysis, and creativity. If we don’t approach these kinds of opportunities from a state of holistic health, we have to understand that, on some level, we’re not functioning at our best and as a consequence we run the risk of not performing at our best.
We may not ever see an obvious punishment for any of this, but as with many things in life related to taking care of ourselves, the potential opportunity-loss is always harder to see but often the biggest consequence of our actions. From time to time, it’s good to consider what we might be missing out on. Maybe it’s time to take a little nap!
Question: How do you work relaxation, rest, and health into your busy professional routine?
