Want to Conquer Sleep and Reduce Conflict?

Baby sleeping soundly in a car seat

Focusing on conflict resolution and collaboration I have found one of the keys for decision makers to make great decisions has to do with having enough sleep.

This blog provides two very good resources for you if you are having trouble getting enough sleep. With the right amount of sleep, you will be less irritable, and you will be able to see the world in a more positive light. This can lead to less conflict and help you see more opportunities for collaboration.

This first sound bite is from the Harvard Business Review Management Tip of the Day on June 12, 2018 that was adapted from “Senior Executives Get More Sleep Than Everyone Else,” by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter. The tip suggests:

“Get More Sleep. Starting Tonight.

It’s no secret that most of us don’t get enough sleep — or that sleep deprivation can hurt our logical reasoning, focus, and mood. But do you know how to get the seven to nine hours you need? To start, you should go to bed when you’re just starting to feel drowsy. For many people, that’s usually between 10 PM and 11 PM, when melatonin, a natural hormone that makes you relax and ultimately fall asleep, often kicks in. And you probably already know to avoid screens at night, since their blue light rays can inhibit the production of melatonin, but you should also stay away from any activity that requires a lot of thinking. Making your brain work hard can keep you awake, even if you’re simply reading. Before bed, try doing the dishes, going for a walk, or listening to music instead. Getting a good night’s sleep is not a random event — it’s a learnable skill.”

However, this often is more easily said than done. In an article from nestmaven.com the authors point out illnesses and conditions that prevent us from getting a good night’s sleep, what the physical impacts are, but more importantly they offer specific ideas to lower stress and improve sleep. Some of their ideas include:

Increase your exposure to daylight

Here are some things you can try:

  • Try some natural relaxation and wellness techniques
  • Try aromatherapy
  • Make your room a den of Zen
  • Try journaling
  • Sort out your finances
  • Look to supplements
  • Adjust your diet
  • Seek professional help

Many times, those in conflict don’t realize how they contribute to the conflict. One way to help de-escalate yourself so that you are not contributing to the conflict is to make sure you have had enough sleep. I want to thank Alisa from nestmaven.com for contacting me and sharing the above article with me so that I could share this with you.

Contact Mike Gregory to speak to your group or consult with you, and check out his website, books and helpful content on the right side of his About page. Michael Gregory, NSA, ASA, CVA, MBA and a Qualified Mediator with the Minnesota Supreme Court, is an international speaker. Mike speaks on how to overcome conflict with collaboration by using the collaboration effect TM enhancing relationships, resources and revenues. Mike services clients business to IRS, business to business and within businesses. Mike has written 11 books including The Servant Manager and Peaceful Resolutions. Mike may be contacted directly at mg@mikegreg.com and at (651) 633-5311.

About the author

Mike Gregory is a professional speaker, an author, and a mediator. You may contact Mike directly at mg@mikegreg.com and at (651) 633-5311. Mike has written 12 books (and co-authored two others) including his latest book, The Collaboration Effect: Overcoming Your Conflicts, and The Servant Manager, Business Valuations and the IRS, and Peaceful Resolutions that you may find helpful. [Michael Gregory, ASA, CVA, MBA, Qualified Mediator with the Minnesota Supreme Court]