As I’ve been working on my personal growth plan over the past few weeks, I realized tonight that I’ve done a lousy job on one my biggest goals for last year. Tonight, I’m committing to make rest my number one goal for 2009.
“WASTE not life,” wrote Benjamin Franklin, patron saint of American entrepreneurs. “In the grave will be sleeping enough.” Centuries later, the attitude toward sleep in America — and in American business, in particular — has scarcely changed. Corporate culture reveres the e-mail message sent at 3 a.m., the executive who rushes directly into a meeting from a red-eye flight. Bumper stickers offer an updated version of Franklin’s dictum: “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”
“There is a cultural bias against sleep that sees it as akin to shutting down, or even to death….” [New York Times]
I want to learn how to get beyond my own desire to accomplish and achieve. I want to move past my ability to get things done and make money in the evenings doing freelance work. I’m praying that God would make me counter cultural and teach me how to rest.
I am praying for you on this one. In the little time I have known you it is obvious you do everything 110%. I know this will be a hard one for you, but I really couldn’t handle you passing out in the floor of the office!!!!!
Fasten your seatbelt, I will have an eye opener for you tommorrow on the real meaning of Ben Frankiln’s quote.
Good example Kyle. You know I am sick cause I don’t sleep and I am writing this message at 11:43pm. Crazy.
BJL
It’s hard to do and not feel guilty and yet God has asked us to be still…
Biologically speaking you should sleep between 6.5 and 7.5 hours per day http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1812420,00.html . Confirm with your physician. It is not true you need less sleep as you get older. Many people sleep less as they are older due to medical conditions. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/28/health/28real.html
I hear people all the time that talk about how busy they are. Some people are busy. For a majority of people this is not true. People waste a lot of time doing things that are a waste of time or repetitive.
Signs you are not really a “busy person”
1) You watch TV more than 3 times a week.
2) You are at Wal Mart more than 4 times a month.
3) You go grocery shopping more than once a week.
4) You don’t fill your gas tank all the way up.
5) You mow your own grass.
I think Ben is just encouraging people not to waste their time on foolishness.
On a side note, I know a lot of people that have started answering emails at specified times or days to save time and I think that is like continuing to use a toilet that is stopped up.
Time management is tricky but you would be surprised how much time is freed up by something simple like a freezer for food or having someone mow your grass.
I don’t know about other people but I am ruined if I don’t get my 14 hours.
I guess 12 will have to be ok for now.
Aaron, thanks for the prayers!
Ben, I love you, bro! Let’s both get some sleep and learn how to relax.
Lan, you’re so right. Isn’t it amazing that even God chose to rest on the seventh day. Keeping the Sabbath (not just the particular day, but the whole concept) is something that I really had in mind when I posted this.
Mike, I’m definitely not guilty of #1 and #4, but I do get your idea. Not so sure about the toilet analogy though!
Nate, you inspire me! There’s nothing like 14 hours of sleep (except maybe a coma). Love you, brother!