What Meeting Planner hasn’t wished for just a couple more hours in the day to get more work done? With all the details and planning involved in orchestrating a successful corporate event, its no wonder sleep falls to the bottom of the totem pole in so many cases. The thinking is always, “I’ll get some rest after its all done.” The reality is that you can never really catch up on sleep and more studies are showing the overall negative effects of sleep depravation to the human mind and body. 

 

Anyone that’s had to pull an all-nighter and suffered the sluggish effects the following day can attest to that hung-over feeling that just never seems to go away. Did you also know that lack of sleep can also be responsible for those love handles? A new study released by Columbia University shows that “sleep-deprived adults ate almost 300 calories more a day on average than those who got enough sleep. And the extra calories mostly came from saturated fat, which can spell trouble for waistlines.” So while you think you’re staying in shape by cramming a workout into your hectic schedule, turns out a nap might actually prove to be more beneficial. 

 

Of course, there’s a great deal of psychology at play too. After all, how many times have you reached for comfort food when you were tired or irritable? Then, there’s always the rationalization of having that piece of junk food as a treat to yourself for staying up late to do work. You deserve that slice of cheesecake after all your hard work, right??? 

Unfortunately, the effects of sleeps deficiency on the mind don’t end there.   Duke University researched the impact of sleep depravation on decision making skills, specifically as it relates to financially driven decisions. “Using functional MRI scans to study brain activity, they found that those suffering from lack of sleep had increased activity in regions that assess positive outcomes and decreased activity in regions that process negative outcomes.” Overall, it was found that those who slept less were more likely to make risky decisions when compared to those with a normal night of sleep.

 

While the life of a Meeting Planner is often hectic and fast-paced, it is important to take measures to ensure your health as well. Diet and exercise definitely play a part, but in the process of trying to get it all done, don’t ignore sleep. Not only will you feel more relaxed and creative, but you’ll have a clearer mind to make sound decisions and maybe even a more svelte waistline!