Sleep. If you believe the hype, it’s for wimps. Successful entrepreneurs and business owners thrive on only a few hours a night, getting up at 4am for a green juice, workout and ready to tackle the next item on their business plan.
Not me. I need a lot of rest. And I am much more productive when I get it. I never set an alarm, but wake up when my body tells me to, which is usually between 6am and 7.30am, after a good 8 hours or so.
We need to stop glorifying the idea that you have to be always on to be successful. I’m very much a doer, and very productive, but I know I can’t have the energy to be achieving unless I’m rested and fuelled (but that’s a whole other story).
Sleep enables our brains to work better, by enabling neurons to reorganise. It helps consolidate memory, thus helping improve organisation systems so we can remember information and processes that will help with work, as well as more simple things like turning up to meetings and hitting deadlines. It improves mental processes associated with learning, enabling us to progress faster with complex tasks.
A rested body is more energetic, meaning you can tackle tasks with zeal, and often get more done as a result. I know that on days when I’ve had a good amount of sleep I get through work in half the time than I do when I’m tired and weary. That extra couple of hours in bed, rather than being a waste of time, saves me hours in my working day. Matthew Carter, PhD, a sleep specialist at Williams College agrees in his TED Talk The Science of Sleep (and the Art of Productivity), saying that you get more done with more sleep, not less.
One study found that lack of sleep resulting in inefficiency and lack of productivity is actually costing businesses money. As good sleep is essential to heal and restore the body, it also contributes to more sick days.
A tired Francesca is often a grumpy Francesca, which probably doesn’t make me much fun to deal with. I pride myself on being friendly and fun to engage with, so want to be at my best for my clients. It’s very difficult to market yourself as a pleasure to deal with if you come across as a belligerent sod simply because you’re exhausted.
I also enjoy work more when it doesn’t feel like a slog. And my enjoyment of the jobs that I do, the projects I take on, the organisations I deal with and the people I deal with are central to my job satisfaction. So when I’m energised and engaged, being a business owner is the best thing ever. I’d like to keep it that way.
What about you? Are you hustler or a sleeper? Or is the relationship between the two more complex?
For me a good day at work, which adds up to good results for my clients, starts with a good sleep.