Have you ever heard the expression let me sleep on it? Sleep is something we all need. Yet, for the entrepreneur it is often dismissed as an inconvenience – something that interrupts your momentum.
When you’re starting out you want to give it all you got. But If you’re always exhausted, is that really giving it all you got? Protracted hours may be a necessity when you are facing a deadline or working through a momentary tough spot. In those situations long hours should only be an occasional requirement. If they turn into a permanent part of your life as an entrepreneur, changes need to be made. You can easily be establishing a habit, leading to burn out.
When you’re exhausted bad things happen. Your creativity suffers. Your quality of work declines. It becomes difficult to think straight. You become less tolerant and more impatient. People find it harder to relate to you. Studies have shown that on each successive day that you get less sleep than you normally would your IQ declines.
Think about the last time you worked long hours to the point of exhaustion. How much did you accomplish by pushing yourself through that final hour? Was it more than you would have accomplished the next day in an hour when you were refreshed? Chances are that late night was unproductive by comparison. When you feel compelled to work to exhaustion, it’s because you have to act. Actions involve decisions. When you’re exhausted your decisions are impaired.
When someone says “let me sleep on it”. It’s really not a dodge. Sleeping on an important decision should always be your rule. If your waking mind is struggling with a problem, handing it off to your sleeping subconscious will often result in a fresh perspective and an inspired solution in the morning. Perpetual exhaustion inhibits the ability of your subconscious to help. There is great truth in “sleeping on it.”
Oh yeah, one other thing. Exhaustion damages your immune system and your overall health. It will shorten your life. Now shut off your device and get some sleep.
Illustration from https://mymedicatedlife.blogspot.com/
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