Turn off at night and turn up your productivity

This month, it's back to basics. Most of us know that a good night's sleep is important, but as Mike explains, it could make the difference between having a good idea and a great one.

Do have an idea or topic you'd like us to discuss in Telecom HealthLink? Send us an email at marketing@vericom.net.

Sleep, Stress, and Success
By Mike Mitchell

If you're like many Telecom managers I know, you probably work 45 to 50 hours a week and perhaps even more during software conversions, equipment upgrades, and mission-critical projects. Although Telecom can be exciting and interesting, there are always pressures and stresses that go with the job. A certain amount of stress is good, as it keeps us alert and focused. But too much can interfere with one of our most important daily activities: sleep.

Work-related stress can keep you from sleeping well. It occupies your thoughts as you lay your head on the pillow. Replaying scenarios from the day keeps your mind stimulated and doesn't allow for a relaxing transition into a peaceful sleep. Lack of adequate sleep can also impede your success the following day.

Liberty Benefit Insurance Services presented the following in their report "Sleep and Productivity -Are Your Employees Getting Enough Rest?"

• 40% of adults admit that the quality of their work suffers when they're sleepy.
• Employees estimate that the quality and quantity of their work is diminished by about 30% when they are sleepy.
• At least two-thirds of adults say that sleepiness interferes with their concentration and makes handling on-the-job stress more difficult.

In Minimizing Stress, Maximizing Success, author Claire Harris reports the findings of the Loughborough Sleep Research Centre in the UK. Sleep loss:

• Affects our ability to think clearly and communicate well.
• Makes us more easily distracted.
• Impacts our capacity to make flexible decisions, and quick, rational judgment is impaired.
• Causes us to lose our capacity to alter our strategy as the situation changes.

What can you do to combat this critical problem of stress-induced sleeplessness? The secret is in changing your habits, which can regulate body and brain chemicals. Here are a few suggestions to help overcome sleeplessness:

• Avoid or limit caffeine and alcohol two hours before retiring
• Exercise regularly (during the day)
• Establish a routine time to go to bed and wake up each morning.
• Don't regularly work late. Remember, getting a good night's sleep will mean you'll be more refreshed and productive in the morning.
• Turn off the cell telephone, blackberry, and other electronics two hours before going to bed. Don't check your email right before going to bed.
• Enjoy a quiet, relaxing activity one-hour before bedtime such as reading, or taking a warm bath. Avoid exciting stimuli.
• If one thought is stealing your sleep, write it down and forget about it. It can wait until tomorrow.

Sleep time is vital, partly because the brain uses sleep to process the day?s events. Give your body the time it needs to rejuvenate itself. You'll be more successful in the long run.

- Mike

Dear Mike: I've heard all the news about companies outsourcing IT jobs to India. I'm really concerned. Will this trend continue and how will it affect me and other American IT workers?

Mike's Answer: I understand your concern. Today there is increasing pressure on many companies to cut costs and decrease budgets. IT staffing is one area feeling the pinch, but there is some good news.

• First, refer to the November 2007 Telecom HealthLink article Are You on the Ladder to Success?  for the IT employment outlook for the next two to three years. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
• Second, some of India's IT service providers are now opening consultancies and development offices in the U.S. According to March 24, 2008 InformationWeek, TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) has opened a center in Cincinnati with plans to employ 1000 workers. The same article reveals WiPro Technologies' plans to recruit about 500 workers for a new development center in Atlanta. It also plans similar facilities in other American cities to be announced in the future.

In reality, you can't believe everything you read and hear. I'm optimistic about future opportunities for IT workers in America.

Have a question for Mike? Email him at mike@telexcellence.com.

FCC approves rules for wireless text alerts

FCC commissioners this week approved an order to establish a program for commercial wireless carriers to deliver text-message alerts and critical information to their customers during disasters or other emergencies, although many questions remain regarding its implementation.

Mobile backhaul's true bottleneck

Increased utilization of 3G networks, more so than the impending 4G requirements, is driving the need for higher capacity backhaul, according to a report released this week by ABI Research.

CTIA: Verizon Business makes PBX mobile

Verizon Business this week announced new mobile extensions for PBXs that allow businesses to make their mobile workers more productive while keeping corporate networks more secure.

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