Sharpen the saw is one of the 7 points taken from the book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, first published in 1989, is a business and self-help book written by Stephen R. Covey. With over 15 million copies sold worldwide, it is a ‘must-read’ book amongst the plethora of management books available.
But what does it have to do with Sleep?
“Sharpen the Saw” means looking after the single most important thing that makes us effective in our daily lives; ourselves! If a saw is a blunt instrument, it would take us twice as long to cut half the amount of wood. In other words, we need to keep ourselves sharp so that we do not become blunt instruments.
Covey splits this out into four areas of our lives: physical; social/emotional; mental; and spiritual.
Two of the three physical elements are ones that we often hear about in the media: healthy eating and exercise. The third element is the one that is often forgotten: resting.
By rest Covey means not over-working, punctuating work with rest breaks, having regular time out including holidays and, in our opinion the most important element; a good night’s sleep. This includes maintaining regular and uninterrupted sleep patterns.
That sounds easier than it actually is. Here at Comfomatic, we are well versed in the secrets of a good night’s sleep. This starts and ends with our beds. If a bed is old and the mattress poor, then we are unlikely to sleep soundly. If our sleeping position is unsuitable for our body and does not enhance slumber then, again, as Covey intimates, we will not wake up feeling fresh and sharp.
There are many other things we can do to help rest our minds at night, such as:
- Blocking out light when we sleep (Decent curtains help!)
- Not looking at mobile phones and tablet devices at least an hour before we decide to sleep
- Not discussing serious issues just before you want to sleep
Ultimately though, all these peripheral elements count for nothing if our beds are unsuitable.
Comfomatic has a range of beds with infinitely adjustable positions to suit nearly all individuals. Approximately 1,000 customers have completed ‘Sleep Surveys’, the results of which categorically prove that Comfomatic customers are achieving a much-improved length and quality of sleep with the help of their Comfomatic beds.
Whilst rest is only one point of 7 in Covey’s self-help book, it is arguably the single most important. Our ability to be effective in our daily lives flows from being alert and well-rested. Anyone struggling to sleep and feeling constantly jaded should consider looking at their bed. Maintaining solid sleep is the first step towards sharpening the saw and being a highly effective individual.