As a personal trainer and a wellness consultant, I work with a lot of attorneys struggling to balance the stresses of lawyer life. Those who carve out time to exercise and eat healthy often sacrifice sleep to get it all done.

The average person needs seven to eight hours of quality sleep, and less than 3 percent of people are so-called short sleepers who need fewer than six hours per night. Sleep deficiency diminishes our cognitive function, physical health and metabolism. It leads to memory and concentration difficulties, increased hunger and cravings for sugar and poor physical performance. It has also been linked to depression, suicide and risk-taking behavior.