Want to be more productive? Sleep yourself a better career.
04-12-2013
They say that success is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration and this holds true most of the time. If you want to succeed then you really need to put the work in, you need to be energetic and determined, you need to be motivated and you need to be productive. Ironically the best way to ensure that you have all of these qualities is by ensuring you sleep well. Sleep is the secret to success.
But don’t successful people sleep less?
We have all heard the stories about how people like Thomas Edison and Margaret Thatcher only slept for four hours a night. These people are venerated for their achievements and many people say that they were able to become so successful because they slept less than other people.
Sleep the right amount for you
However, the truth is that the amount of sleep you need is specific to you as an individual and will change over your lifetime. While there are a few people who can not only survive but thrive on four hours a night, this is not true for the majority, who need around seven hours to function well. Put simply, if you are not one of the few who it comes naturally to, then you will struggle to get anywhere on four hours of sleep.
Why sleep?
The more we have come to learn about sleep’s role the more important we have discovered it is to virtually every aspect of our lives. If you are not sleeping well then you will struggle to be a dynamic go getter. If you are not sleeping well then you will not have the energy or drive to get to the top. Put simply, getting good sleep each and every night is one of the most important things that anyone can do to improve their career.
Does it really work?
A number of recent studies just found that it is better for professional sports teams to sleep longer and train less. These studies were so influential that a number of leading US sports team, including teams like the New York Yankees, put their findings into practice and found them extremely helpful.
The same factors that make it more beneficial for these pro sports players to sleep more also help with non-sports careers. One major function of sleep is memory storage and retention. Sleeping more helps us remember better the next day, a feat vital on the sports field and in the boardroom.
It is that easy.
The good thing is that unlike up skilling getting more sleep is pretty easy for most of us. Unlike learning a new language making sure you get a good night’s sleep is accomplishable for most of us. If you want to succeed then you need to make sure that you sleep well. With good sleep health you will be more alert, you will have more energy, you will retain information better and you will be more positive and outgoing, all qualities that will push your career ahead.
More stories like this one
