Getting back on steady ground as an executive leader

I don't know about you but the recent events have left me feeling shaken and unsteady. And one of the resilience strategies that I count on to help balance me has been evading me – sleep.

Sleep serves many different functions. One of these is to do a bit of brain "housekeeping". Recent findings suggest that sleep plays a housekeeping role that removes toxins in your brain that build up while you are awake.

Adequate sleep is also important for attention and learning during our waking hours. When we are sleep deprived, we can't focus on large amounts of information or sustain our attention for long periods. Our reaction times are slowed and we are also less likely to be creative.

So as you get ready for bed tonight, consider these tips:

• Set a schedule – go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine late in the day and alcoholic drinks before bed.
• Relax before bed – try a warm bath, reading, or another relaxing routine.
• Create a room for sleep – avoid bright lights and loud sounds, keep the room at a comfortable temperature, and don't watch TV or have a computer in your bedroom. Shut off your devices at least an hour before bed.
• Meditate – deep breathing and mindfulness can not only improve sleep quality but both are also effective strategies to improve our ability to deal with stress and uncertainty.