Sleepless in Corporate America…

How Your Lack of Sleep is Impacting Your Success

In this issue: Sleepless in Corporate America…/ How to Stop Overthinking and Start Trusting Your Gut: / The Science of Blockbusters: What Makes a Good Story?/ The Lighter Side of Sleep

—

Why you’re getting this:

I'm Andrea J. Miller and this is my “On Leading Well” Newsletter. I send this to people in my networks, people I’ve met recently, and friends I want to keep in touch with. You can unsubscribe (SEE THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE EMAIL) anytime, I won’t be offended

Sleepless in Corporate America…How Your Lack of Sleep is Impacting Your Success

Jeff Bezos does it.

Warren Buffet too!

Even the Dalai Lama?

They, like so many other very successful people, are known for prioritizing getting enough sleep.

Yet far too many of us still fail to get the sleep we need.

Instead, we:

Spend countless hours on our screens…

Watch Netflix…

Drink one more cocktail…

Napping, it’s Good for Business

Those late nights have an impact.

Inevitably, the next day you struggle to focus.

So, we go for an afternoon coffee, expecting the combination of caffeine and adrenaline to keep us going.

However, though more alert we now feel on edge, maybe even become a little irritable…while hoping nobody notices.

It becomes harder to concentrate.

To think clearly.

To create, and

To Lead.

It doesn’t matter what the role, the amount and quality of sleep we get has an impact on our work…and our health (for another post).

And yet most of us give surprisingly little thought to it or choose to ignore it altogether.

We know we’re tired.

We may even dream of getting enough sleep (yes, bad pun intended), and yet, it stays low on our priority list.

Despite recognizing the impact, we avoid doing what’s necessary to get the sleep we need.

The struggle is real.

In a busy life where’s there’s always ONE MORE THING, it’s a very difficult pattern to break.

Worse still, we tell ourselves that watching our favorite show along with an alcoholic beverage will help us relax…

Sadly, the science says otherwise.

Screens/Bluelight close to bedtime can make it harder to fall asleep.

And while the sedative effects of alcohol may make us feel more relaxed, it can actually increase sleep disruptions and decrease sleep quality.

What do people and the companies they work for need to do to ensure their wellbeing and, relatedly their effectiveness?

It’s easy to dismiss these foundational elements of good health as unimportant, particularly when sleep deprivation has long been considered a badge of honor.

But what if all these years we’ve gotten it all wrong?

What if, just maybe Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, the Dalai Lama, and the countless others are right and we’re paying attention to the wrong metrics for achieving success?

As overwhelming as this simple biological function may seem at times, all it takes are a few simple changes to get the sleep you need to be your best at work and in other areas of life.

Getting a Good Night’s Sleep:

1.     Let there be Light – Getting daylight within 30-60 minutes of waking and again in the late afternoon, prior to sunset can help with sleep. It triggers a neural circuit that controls the timing of the hormones cortisol and melatonin, which will improve your ability to sleep.

2.     Shutdown Complete — The blue light from your cellphone and tablets restricts the production of melatonin and leads to a disruption in your circadian rhythm. By shutting down your screens 30 minutes before bedtime you increase your ability to get that much-needed rest.

3.     Just Say No to Nightcaps - Drinking alcohol disturbs your sleep. While you may feel sleepy or drowsy after drinking alcohol, it can affect your circadian rhythm and in the long run make sleep more difficult.

4.     Manage Your Caffeine – Caffeine is a stimulant, consuming caffeine within 8-10 hours of bedtime can keep you awake late into the evening when you need to be winding down.

5.     Get on a Schedule – Waking up at the same time each day and going to sleep when you begin to feel sleepy will help your body know when it’s time to get to bed. Pushing through the sleepy late evening feeling and going to sleep too late (for you) is one reason people wake at 3 am and can’t fall back asleep.

—

RECOMMENDED LISTENS, READS

How to Stop Overthinking and Start Trusting Your Gut:   Intuition is frequently dismissed as mystical or unreliable — but there’s a deep neurological basis for it. When you approach a decision intuitively, your brain works in tandem with your gut to quickly assess all your memories, past learnings, personal needs, and preferences and then makes the wisest decision given the context

The Science of Blockbusters: What Makes a Good Story?:

Wharton’s Jonah Berger discusses new research that quantifies why some movies, television shows, and other stories are more successful than others.

—

The Lighter Side of Sleep

—

Are there any other subjects you want me to cover? Hit “Reply” and tell me!

I love hearing from you :)!

—

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward to a friend (or 5 :) or someone you feel would benefit from reading it!

Andrea J. Miller

+1 (646) 556-5401 (Whatsapp)