In our country, there is a pervasive idea that working yourself to death is admirable. The idea of working as hard as we play has even found its way into advertising campaigns- as if we need more of a push to work ourselves to the point of exhaustion. In fact, it’s even popular to brag about how little sleep we get.
“I’ll sleep when I’m dead!” I’m sure you’ve heard that.
However, this is one of the most detrimental messages that exist. And not just in the business world. From the article:
“Sustained exhaustion is not a rite of passage. It’s a mark of stupidity. Literally. Scientists have suggested that scores on IQ tests decline on each successive day you sleep less than you naturally would. It doesn’t take long before the difference is telling.
People pulling 16-hour days on a regular basis are exhausted. They’re just too tired to notice that their work has suffered because of it.”
But it doesn’t just affect your health. It also affects the mental health of those around you. Have you ever met a new Mom with other kids running around? Trust me, she’s short on patience. Now imagine working for someone short on sleep; they are rude, less understanding, and have almost no patience for life- let alone mistakes.
While working long hours might have merit for a new business, if you aren’t careful, a necessity can become a habit. The truth is though that in the long run, work is not more important than sleep. In fact, you’ll die faster without sleep than without food. Let that sink in.
There are very few issues that need to be solved well after the workday has finished.
Source: Linked In
