Daily Buzz: Is Your Sleep Routine Really Working?

It’s no secret that sleep is important for productivity and overall well-being. What might be harder to determine is if your bedtime routine is actually working for you.

“Two key metrics can help you determine whether you should change the way you wind down at night, according to June J. Pilcher, a psychology professor at Clemson University, who studies sleep,” writes Inc.’s Sophie Downes  (opens in a new tab).

One is low sleep efficiency, or the ratio of the amount of time you spend in bed to the amount you spend actually sleeping. If it’s taking too long to fall asleep, you might need to change something about your sleep habits. But the definition of “too long” may vary from person to person.

“There’s no magic number, but once you feel like you’ve been lying awake for too long, get up,” Downes says.

Sleep quality is also something to keep in mind, and you can track it yourself. “Pilcher says: When you wake up, rate the quality of your sleep on a scale of 1 to 10. If the number isn’t as high as you’d like, re-evaluate your routine,” Downes writes.

If you still aren’t sleeping well, one strategy to improve sleep quality and efficiency is to sleep less. Pilcher recommends limiting your sleep to seven hours a night for a couple of weeks if you’re usually in bed for eight hours, which will “force your body to take full advantage of a shortened sleep time.”

Bring Your Association’s Culture to Your Members

How you can show up behind the mask of the #association  (opens in a new tab) https://t.co/cHeOZsb5e8  (opens in a new tab) #ASAE  (opens in a new tab)

— Amanda Lea Kaiser (@AmandaLeaKaiser) April 9, 2020  (opens in a new tab)

When in-person association events are not available, it can be difficult for members to experience your organization’s positive and friendly culture.

“No one is shaking hands with new members at their first chapter meeting. There is no idle chitchat at the local study for the certification exam meeting,” says Amanda Kaiser of Smooth the Path  (opens in a new tab).

In these situations, connect with members online. Try adding your photo to your email signature line, replace letters from the director with a short video, and use videoconferencing apps to reach out to members, Kaiser suggests.

Other Links of Note

What is attraction marketing, and how do you master it? HubSpot’s Kayla Carmicheal breaks down how to implement  (opens in a new tab) the strategy.

If you’ve made the grave mistake of deleting important files, it’s not too late to restore them  (opens in a new tab), says Gizmodo’s David Nield.

Thinking about stopping your marketing efforts? A new post in the Nonprofit Marketing Guide suggests audiences want content in uncertain times  (opens in a new tab).

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