The Best Gift

This is the season when everyone is making their gift list and checking it more than twice, making sure no one is left off and that no gift is simply a repeat from last year. Time and money are budgeted for this important activity, which impacts so many in our life. It may be the one time of year when we are a little more generous than normal or even become extravagant.

Where are we personally on the gift list? I would guess not too many are at the top of it. More than likely we put ourselves at the bottom or maybe we don’t even think to put our name on it at all. If you are on not on your list, go ahead and add your name and think about what you would like as a gift. Maybe you are dreaming big for a new car or spectacular vacation.

Here’s a suggestion for what may be the best gift you could possibly give yourself—the gift of sleep. You may roll your eyes at this gift idea, but consider it for a moment. Better sleep and more of it has benefits that impact physical and emotional health as well as creativity, productivity, and performance. This is the gift that truly keeps on giving.

There are many ways to give yourself this gift of sleep. It may mean investing in a sound machine to drown out noise, black out curtains to block out light, or even a new mattress. There are ways to give this gift without spending a dime just by leaving disconnecting earlier from social media and going to bed an hour earlier.

Whatever your budget is this year for presents, remember to give yourself the gift of sleep. You will be glad you did!