Exercise, Nutrition and Sleep (Part 2)
Rest and Sleep
I think this is my most important message to doctors. We all need more sleep and rest that we usually get. The target should be around 8 hours of sleep per day. Some elite athletes sleep 12 hours per day.
I think that there are two reasons why most doctors are sleep deprived.
The first reason is many of us are on overnight call during which our sleep can be shortened or interrupted. After being on call during the night and not getting enough sleep, some doctors will also go to work to see patients during the day as they feel bad about rescheduling or ‘dumping’ them onto colleagues.
Doing shift work or having young children can also dramatically affect a sleep routine. All of these can make you chronically sleep-deprived, and many doctors get used to it.
The second reason is many doctors listen to the incorrect messages out there about not needing a lot of sleep and that sleep is overrated. People who sleep less are often celebrated and shown as role models. I think that this is wrong.
I believe that countries like Denmark, where people work on average, 32 hours per week and have more time to rest and relax should be shown as the ultimate lifestyle example.
Despite the reduced hours, Danish are more productive than people in the USA, UK or UK. Lack of proper sleep kills our productivity and affects the way we take care of our patients.
When we are not at work, we should be doing things that make us happy and relaxed. Whether that’s spending time with family, exercising or anything else.
It’s important to learn how to rest outside of watching TV or playing on our tablets or smartphones.
For me, I love having a weekend away from home. It’s easier for me to go away and relax than trying to do it at home. There are always so many things to get busy with at home. So I prefer changing the scenery and going away, where I can read a book and truly relax. Usually, a weekend away recharges my batteries for the next two months.
I try and keep track of my weeks to assess how I am doing. Reviewing is a part of my weekly routine, and that way, I can spot what works and what doesn’t and change them if need be.
It’s inevitable to have bad days with your exercise, nutrition and sleep routines. It’s OK, we all have them. This is how we appreciate the good times in our lives and learn going forward.