The Wealth of Sleep: One of Your Most Valuable Assets

Some may have a hard time believing that sleep and finances have anything in common, or are connected to each other, but contrary to what many might think – they most certainly do. Sleep can affect decision-making, the energy needed to tackle daily tasks and to go after longer-term goals and of course, your physical health. Investing in your sleep most certainly has an ROI (return on investment).

Recently, Nancy H. Rothstein, The Sleep Ambassador®, was Beacon Pointe’s Women’s Advisory Institute topical expert. In a dynamic moderated conversation with Beacon Pointe Managing Director, Jill B. Steinberg, Nancy discussed the importance of sleep for our overall well-being and shared with clients many strategies and easily implementable tips to help improve the quality and quantity of our sleep. Before becoming a sleep specialist, Rothstein worked as a successful investment manager, before leaving the world of finance and entering the world of sleep. Unlike most sleep experts, Nancy has an MBA after her name rather than an MD, or PhD giving her a unique perspective. Her background in finance makes her see sleep as a critical investment in oneself that not only allows one’s time awake to become more valuable and productive, but also improves one’s overall health, well-being and longevity.  Similar to a financial investment, investing in sleep requires a plan and thoughtful actions. Rothstein’s talk provided many ideas to help improve our sleep to positively impact all areas of our lives.

Key takeaways from the conversation include:

  • The suggested amount of sleep for adults is between 7-9 hours per night; however, only you know how much sleep you need each night. Your body will tell you when you wake, and as well as throughout the day, if it has had enough rest or not.
  • Napping is not a substitute for nighttime sleep. When you do nap, keep it under 30 minutes so you do not get so deep in your sleep cycle that you wake up groggier than you were before your nap.
  • When you are not getting enough sleep, your brain is not allowed the time it needs to “clean” its pathways; think of it like when you don’t leave time to clean your home, without allowing time for that you get a “dirty kitchen” that truly doesn’t function properly.  Sleep allows your brain to refresh and clear itself for the next day.
  • Take an hour before bed to “prepare” yourself for sleep, just like you would prepare yourself for a big meeting or presentation – preparing your body and mind for sleep should be no different.
    • The blue light within TV and phone screens blocks the release of melatonin within the brain, making it harder to fall asleep.
    • Try reading a physical book or meditating.
  • Sleep apnea, a disorder that interrupts breathing while sleeping, is one of the most frequently undiagnosed sleeping disorders that could prove to be more damaging to your health than you know. Approximately 43 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, while 85% of people who do have some form of the disorder are undiagnosed and untreated. This is alarming as untreated obstructive sleep apnea can lead to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, depression, and stroke, among many other health-related issues. If you or someone you know may be suffering from sleep apnea you can go to www.myapnea.org to learn more about the disease as well as what you can do to treat it.

Lack of sleep and obesity have also been strongly linked together. A lack of sleep will naturally cause the body to release hormones that alert your brain that you are hungry or in need of food. This is a hormonal response to lack of sleep and your body’s natural reaction to this response is to think you are hungry, which often causes people to overeat. On top of that, sleep deprivation will decrease your motivation and productivity levels, and believe it or not, sleep and weight loss (or gain) are related. Not getting restful sleep works against weight loss.

Rothstein emphasizes how important sleep is to having a successful day. “Productive days begin with a good night’s rest” and sleep is the best head start you can give yourself. Sleep truly is an investment that you are making in yourself. The most beautiful thing about sleep is that you are in the driver’s seat – there’s no outsourcing. No one can sleep for you except yourself. Being self-motivated to focus on getting a good night’s sleep each and every night is one of the greatest long-term investments that you can make. Having a sound mind and body during the day will allow the brain to be focused and responsive to everything life has in store for you.

In addition to the above content, a recording of our recent virtual event is now available – please click here to view the video, and feel free to pass it along to your friends and family who could benefit from the shared information.

To view the full “The Wealth of Sleep” conversation, please click on the below video image.

Several additional resources were mentioned by The Sleep Ambassador®, Nancy H. Rothstein, MBA, of which you will find listed below.

To join future conversations and stay current on Beacon Pointe’s financial, investment and well-being tips, be sure to follow:

Important Disclosure: This content is for informational purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Beacon Pointe has exercised all reasonable professional care in preparing this information. Some information may have been obtained from third-party sources we believe to be reliable; however, Beacon Pointe has not independently verified, or attested to, the accuracy or authenticity of the information. Nothing contained herein should be construed or relied upon as investment, legal or tax advice. Only private legal counsel may recommend the application of this general information to any particular situation or prepare an instrument chosen to implement the design discussed herein. An investor should consult with their financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Copyright © 2024 Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC®. No part of this document may be reproduced.   

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