I have been a sub-six hour sleeper for most of my working life and held it as some vain badge of honour. I thought more waking hours meant more productivity, so I could do more, work more, tackle more. Only recently have I discovered that it is a fool’s errand. I may have gained more wake hours, but those hours have been far less productive because I haven’t adequately rested and refreshed my brain and body. I am actually a far better person and a more effective leader and employee if I stop shaving off sleep to get more stuff done. It is one thing the many businesses can do more for the employees, in my view, is to make sure they get enough sleep
I highly recommend the book “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dream” by Matthew Walker. It is fascinating and informative about one of life’s most poorly understood miracles – sleep. Walker is one of the world’s leading experts on the subject, and he covers everything we need to know about sleep and how we make it work for us, not against us.
I like how he sums up sleep with the following marketing line: “AMAZING BREAKTHROUGH! Scientists have discovered a revolutionary new treatment that makes you live longer. It enhances your memory and makes you more creative. It makes you look more attractive. It keeps you slim and lowers food cravings. It protects you from cancer and dementia. It wards off colds and the flu. It lowers your risk of heart attacks and stroke, not to mention diabetes. You’ll even feel happier, less depressed, and less anxious. Are you interested?”