If you think sleep is a luxury for people with nothing to do, this article is for you.
In our society today, sleep has become equated with the lazy and we view those who can function with 4 or less hours of sleep as superheroes or hard workers deserving a badge of honor. I used to think the same way. In college, I always touted the fact that I pulled frequent all-nighters but was yet still able to survive. The ability to function with little sleep was a desired trait.
How wrong I was...like my Econ 101 professor always said, "There is no such thing as a free lunch." It is not possible to be sleep deprived and perform at your best. In The Power of Full Engagement, Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz found that the difference between the top performing athletes and the mediocre ones was that the best knew how to rest effectively. Just take a look at your own experience and think back to the days you had ample sleep versus the days you didn't. I have yet to meet anyone that told me they performed better with less sleep than with more.
I know what you're thinking ... how am I going to find the time to sleep 7-8 hours daily and still do everything that I want to do. This is a question that I struggled with myself. I have so many things to do and so little time but through the tracking of my daily tasks and hours of sleep, I have found that I get more things done in a week where I have enough sleep versus a week when I am sleep deprived. It is true that I may get more things done on the day I sleep only a few hours but I am a lot less productive the next couple of days.
This is when I decided that it is more productive to sleep and that sleeping is actually one of the key factors to success and healthy lifestyle. I am now averaging over 7 hours of sleep and getting more done than ever. What helped me let go of the opportunity cost of sleeping was to make ample rest one of the goals I want to achieve. Once I put sleep on my to-do list, I didn't treat it as something I can put off in the name of completing my goals. As with my other goals, I track it daily to make sure I am aware of it even on my busiest days.
I think we have all experienced the benefits of sleep. If you haven't, check out this article: The Three Reasons Why You Should Sleep More.
So if you're reading this late at night, GET SOME SLEEP. It'll do wonders for your life and your complexion.
About the Author: Robert Chen
5 years ago, heck, 2 years ago, I would’ve disagreed with your post but today, I’m 100% with you on this one. I’ve always underestimated the power of a good night’s rest (typically getting more than 7 hours of sleep) and that’s why I’d usually get around 4-6 hours of sleep, thinking that I’d get more done by sleeping less. The truth is, last year I realized how much more I could get done with 8 hours of sleep because I have more energy to do what I want in less time. Though, coffee is still in the picture, haven’t taken that out of the mix. There are still work nights where I stay up til 1-2am for no real reason, but I’m making it habit to sleep earlier!
I understand completely how you feel. I used to stay up late all the time in the guise of getting things done but I never took into the account how little I was getting done on the days that followed. Getting more sleep definitely helps me be more focused and do higher quality work. By the way, I added the link for “The Three Reasons Why You Should Sleep More”
oh, can you please re-link the “The Three Reasons Why You Should Sleep More”… can’t seem to get to the page
[…] to make sure my body recovers. Are you fitting rest into your schedule? If not, read How to Sleep Your Way to Success by clicking here. […]
[…] Previously I used to get up from bed and try to do some work. I know it is not good to stimulate the mind when you are trying to sleep but it seemed like a waste of time to just lie in bed awake. I would work until my eyes became heavy and then go to bed. The next morning I would have a hard time waking up and be easily distracted all day. It was becoming a barrier in my life (click here to read The Three Reasons Why You Should Sleep More) and to my success (click here to read How to Sleep Your Way to Success). […]
[…] 30. Energy Conscious – Those who become great understand that successfully managing their energy is just as important if not more so than managing their time (Quality #6). One of the most important principles in energy management is knowing that rest is as important as action. Successful people are aware that low energy produces poor results and this violates their need for excellence (Quality #2). One of the best ways to manage your energy is to sleep your way to success. […]
[…] Example: If I decide that I will create a custom diet and exercise routine for myself to lose 20 lbs in 3 months, I will break down those 3 months first into weekly tasks. Week 1 may be to research and create an exercise and nutrition plan. Week 2 may be to start plan and track results every 3 days. Then I will further break down my weekly tasks into daily tasks. I may plan that on Day 1 of Week 1, I will research effective exercise routines that I can do at home. Day 2 of Week 1 may be to learn more about diet and weight loss from the internet. I will continue to break down all the bigger weekly tasks into smaller daily ones which include the days I will rest. […]
[…] 15. Energy Conscious – Those who become great understand that successfully managing their energy is just as important if not more so than managing their time (Quality #6). One of the most important principles in energy management is knowing that rest is as important as action. Successful people are aware that low energy produces poor results and this violates their need for excellence (Quality #2). One of the best ways to manage your energy is to sleep your way to success. […]
[…] Energy Conscious – Those who become great understand that successfully managing their energy is just as important if not more so than managing their time (Quality #6). One of the most important principles in energy management is knowing that rest is as important as action. Successful people are aware that low energy produces poor results and this violates their need for excellence (Quality #2). One of the best ways to manage your energy is to sleep your way to success. […]