Last week I came across a video clip where the motivational speaker was saying (shouting) things like – successful people don’t sleep, sleep is for losers – and it troubled me.
In our fast-paced world, hard work is undeniably essential for success.
But let’s not underestimate the importance of sleep and rest.
In a culture that often glorifies ‘work hard, play hard,’ we often hear phrases like “sleep is for the weak” or “you can sleep when you’re dead.”
Yet, this mindset is not only misleading but also harmful. Sleep is crucial for creativity, clarity of thinking, long-term success and overall fulfillment.
The amount of sleep you need is personal, and you probably already know how many hours allow you to function at your best. For most adults, the recommended range is 7-9 hours per night, but even a slight reduction can have a significant impact.
Take the example of Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post. In 2007, she collapsed from exhaustion, hitting her head on the desk that landed her with concussion. That experience was a wake-up call—quite literally. Since then, she’s become a strong advocate for the importance of sleep, even writing a book on the subject called Thrive. She learned the hard way that sacrificing sleep for work is not sustainable.
Japan, too, has witnessed the tragic consequences of sleep deprivation. Karoshi, meaning “death from overwork,” is a term used to describe cases of extreme exhaustion leading to sudden deaths. One notable example is that of Matsuri Takahashi, a 24-year-old worker at Dentsu Inc, who tragically took her own life in 2015 after working over 100 hours of overtime in a single month. This case brought national attention to the dangers of chronic overwork and sleep deprivation.
Here’s a startling statistic:
Just one sleepless night can impair performance as much as a blood-alcohol level of 0.1 percent— beyond the legal driving limit. Sleep deprivation affects your judgment, memory, and cognitive function, which ultimately harms your productivity.
On the flip side, getting enough sleep boosts creativity, sharpens your thinking, and enhances productivity. A 2017 study from the University of California, Berkeley found that sleep deprivation shuts down the brain’s ability to build new memories, making it harder to retain new information. In contrast, people who sleep well are better problem-solvers and more innovative.
Successful people sleep not only because they can, but because they know it’s a key to long-term success. Whether it’s an eight-hour sleep routine, enjoying relaxing vacations, or pursuing hobbies, they understand that self-care and personal fulfillment are essential to staying balanced and productive.
Remember: Success is about working smart – combining periods of rest with periods of hard work – and not just working hard.
Balancing effort with adequate rest is what truly propels you forward.
So, the next time you feel pressured to push through your tiredness, listen to your body and recharge. It’s not a sign of weakness—it’s a strategy for sustained success.
So, how many hours of sleep do you need to thrive and what are you doing to make sure you get it?
Here’s to a well-rested, successful you.
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