The Business Case for Sleep

One client shared with me their secret suspicion that sleep was an illogical waste of time. Almost like a conspiracy – like, how would we explain to aliens that “oh yes, we all just lie down for 8 hours out of every day and accomplish nothing”.  

Unfortunately (or fortunately?) sleep is not a conspiracy and we really do need it to perform at our best. I find that separating the idea of someone who works all night from your identity as a successful person is the first step towards making sleep a priority. 

Why Sleep Matters (according to Dr. Greg Wells):

·      Improves learning, problem-solving, creativity, stress management

·      Reduces risk factors associated  with heart attacks, strokes and cancer

·      Strengthens your immune system and builds muscle

·      Regulates your appetite and hormones

 Essentially, you will look better, feel better and perform better.

There is no better example than LeBron James, who is obsessive with his sleep routine and gets up to 12 hours of sleep per day (including naps).

"Sleep is the best way for your body to physically and emotionally be able to recover and get back to 100% as possible." - LeBron James

I find most people are convinced of this argument after watching Dr. Greg’s 3 minute video.

Importantly, Dr. Greg talks about protecting the last hour before sleep by avoiding screens due to the impact of light on our ability to generate melatonin, the hormone that helps us sleep soundly.

Protecting that last hour means you need to structure the rest of your day such that you have routines and boundaries that don’t have you working until you pass out on top of your keyboard.

When I work with clients on their sleep routines we start with the morning. What time do you wake up? What is your plan for exercise and fresh air? What are the best hours for you when you are the most productive that you need to protect for your own agenda? What expectations are you setting with your team on when you are available to review work, and what are your (non-emergency) cut off times?

Forming good sleep habits will force you to optimize how you run your day, so you get a double benefit – more productivity due to a rested brain, and more productivity due to an organized day.

Have I convinced you? Read Atomic Habits if you want some tips on how to establish good habits (for anything, including sleep).