Contributed by: Georgia Ellis

Getting out of bed usually takes me a while, and I used to think this was a bad thing. Why aren’t I jumping out of bed like everyone else?

I had pretty good sleep hygiene practices and usually get between 7-8 hours of sleep… surely I can get up straight away… but I couldn’t… I even began to feel a little guilty at my slower start to the day, especially when people like Mel Robbins (American podcast host, author, motivational speaker, and former lawyer) devoted an entire book to “The 5 Second Rule” - a simple technique to encourage us to leap out of the sweet warm comfort of our beds and go get our goals…

Robbins used it to help herself get out of bed, back in her tough days. She found that if she counted backwards; “5-4-3-2-1 and ACTION!”, she would stop making excuses and jump right up.

I won’t deny that having a hard time waking up in the morning could be the result of the natural effects of sleep inertia, your sleep habits and schedule, or sometimes other conditions…

but in my case, there was something else going on, something that seemed to leave me feeling inspired and set me up for the day…

Ideas and solutions would bubble up from within my psyche… ideas for programs and offerings, solutions to problems I was facing and even ways to have challenging conversations I was avoiding would present themselves.

As I lay there, I seemed to have access to what Napoleon Hill refers to in his seminal work “Think and Grow Rich” as “Infinite Intelligence”. According to Hill, Infinite Intelligence refers to a universal, all-encompassing intelligence that exists beyond the realm of human understanding. It's a form of divine intelligence that is accessible to individuals through their subconscious minds.

Hill suggests that Infinite Intelligence is the source of all inspiration, creativity, and knowledge. It's the force that can guide individuals toward their goals and desires if they learn to tap into it effectively. Is this what I was tapping into as I lingered longer in bed? According to Hill, we can communicate with and receive guidance from this infinite intelligence, which can help us achieve our goals.

Let's face it, as business owners, managers, and leaders, we're constantly striving to innovate, solve problems, and drive success. But what if  we are overlooking one of the most powerful moments for creativity and insight that happens not in the boardroom, or brainstorming session but in the quiet moments between sleep and wakefulness?

Picture this: you wake up in the morning, the soft glow of dawn filtering through your window. Instead of immediately leaping out of bed and diving into the day's tasks, you take a moment to linger, to let your mind gently transition from the depths of sleep to the clarity of wakefulness.

It's in this seemingly idle moment that magic can happen.

The science behind this phenomenon is fascinating. As we transition from sleep to wakefulness, our brain undergoes a subtle but significant shift in activity. During deep sleep, our brain produces delta waves, associated with restorative rest. But as we awaken, our brain begins to generate alpha and theta waves, which are linked to relaxation and creativity. It's during this transition that our subconscious mind comes to life.

While we sleep, our brains are hard at work processing memories, emotions, and even problem-solving tasks. Ideas and insights percolate beneath the surface, waiting for the opportune moment to emerge.

By taking a few moments to linger in bed upon waking, we create a space for these ideas to land. We tap into our subconscious reservoir, allowing creativity to flow freely. This relaxed state of mind, coupled with the transition in brainwave activity, sets the stage for breakthrough thinking and innovative solutions.

But for some, lingering in bed can be torture when our lives are full of work and home life responsibilities that don’t allow for an extra 10 minutes under the blankets. If you want to take advantage of this powerful state without staying in bed, try delaying devices, screen time, and coffee until after low cognitive activities such as yoga, a shower or a walk. These activities have been known to also produce ideas and insights.

There is also the danger of staying in bed too long as you will naturally move out of the Alpha/Theta creative state into the more active Beta brainwave, where your analytical mind and inner critic will start to emerge.

So, if you can take a few extra moments in the morning, be sure to get up and act on the ideas and insights that emerge. For me, I usually head straight to my home office and write down the ideas that present themselves, then go about my morning routine and return to my office to take inspired action. Point in case, the idea for this article bubbled up earlier this week, I made a note of it when I got up, did some research, and scheduled today to write and post it.

Remaining in bed is not just about the science. It's also about mindfulness and reflection. In our fast-paced world, we're often guilty of rushing from one task to the next without pausing to breathe. By lingering in bed for a few moments each morning, we practice mindfulness. We become more present, more aware of our thoughts and feelings. This mindfulness sets a positive tone for the day ahead, enhancing our overall well-being and mental clarity.

So, the next time you find yourself tempted to leap out of bed as soon as you wake up, whether you feel like it or not, like the famous influencers are telling us to do, consider this: don’t reach for your phone, but give yourself permission to linger for just a few moments longer. You might unlock the key to your next big idea.

Embrace the transition from sleep to wakefulness and watch as creativity and insight flourish. Your success may just depend on it.

Mental complexity can enhance your capability to adapt to changing circumstances by enabling you to consider multiple perspectives and solutions. A more complex understanding of the world may better equip you to navigate unexpected challenges and identify opportunities for growth and learning.