The conversation around sleeping and how much you should spend resting is a long one.
From the likes of Elon Musk who just sleeps 4 hours a day to that of every trainer who recommends at least 8 hours of sleep, there’s a disparity somewhere.
But before we get to that, let’s talk about a very specific thing – Why do we even sleep?
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You can probably agree with me that sleeping is a biological necessity.
But there’s also a very important undertone to sleeping that most of us overlook.
Understanding the purpose of sleep is the first step in recognizing its importance.
Sleep is a physical and mental restoration for the body.
Imagine going to the gym. You spend maybe an hour or two working out, breaking down your muscles, and sweating the entire time. And when you’re done, you give your body the rest and time to recover for the next day.
That’s how our body functions too.
The entire day, you spend working and exhausting your body. But when you put that head on the pillow and fall asleep, the body undergoes essential processes such as tissue repair, muscle growth, and memory consolidation.
The brain also eliminates toxins accumulated during waking hours, promoting overall well-being and cognitive function.
I can go on and on. But you get the point. Sleep is essential. In fact, humans spend ⅓ of their lives sleeping.
But when it’s obvious that sleep is so essential, why is it that sleeping is also one of the most abused elements in the lives of high performers?
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Quite often, high performers are known for their sacrifices.
Be it their free time, comfort, relationships, social life, or sleep – while building an empire and doing something extraordinary, it’s very often that most high-performers end up giving up on a lot of pleasures of life.
You’d hear it from so many high-performers, “I barely sleep 4 to 5 hours a night”, and you feel that this is the exact key to living life to the fullest and performing at the fullest.
But guess what?
The misconception that less sleep equates to increased productivity can lead to chronic sleep deprivation, negatively impacting physical health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being.
Getting adequate quality and quantity of sleep is crucial for our body.
“So how many hours should I sleep for Arsalan?”
I know this question will pop up in your mind.
But here’s the thing. It’s not the hours that matter.
The ideal number of hours varies from person to person. Recognizing your individual sleep needs and establishing a consistent sleep routine is key.
Factors such as age, genetics, and lifestyle contribute to this variability.
A baby probably needs more sleep than a fully functioning adult.
All the people that come up to me for advice, I always ask them how well they sleep. And why I do that is very simple – Your sleep quality heavily contributes to how well you perform throughout the rest of the day.
You can probably relate to it too.
Imagine a night where you barely got any sleep. Remember how groggy you felt the entire day the next day? Remember how all you wanted to do was get some good sleep? Remember how you felt like you won’t be able to do anything productive that day?
For those of you who struggle with their sleep, I have a few solutions for you.
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Your sleep cycle is the reflection of your physical and mental health. The more you’re in shape physically and mentally, the better you sleep.
Now to optimize your sleep further, there are certain things you can do too.
Daytime habits and practices have a profound impact on nighttime sleep.
Things like:
- Regularly Exercising
- Drinking a lot of water
- Exposure to natural light
- And, stress management,
Will help you get a good night’s sleep.
Implementing effective sleep strategies and establishing a consistent night routine can signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.
I also want to introduce you to circadian rhythm.
Circadian rhythm is what our body operates on.
If you’ve ever set an alarm for let’s say 7 AM for a day or two, on the third or fourth day, you’ll realize that you get up on your own – without even needing an alarm.
Circadian rhythm is a natural internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Aligning your activities with this rhythm can significantly improve sleep quality.
There’s an informative article about circadian rhythms by Nature Communications that I suggest you read.
Modern tech is getting good. Tell a doctor 50 years ago that you’d be able to track your heart rate through a watch and they’d have thought you’re Dr Strange from the multiverse.
It’s fascinating how technology has also helped us understand ourselves and our patterns more intimately.
I’m really not for or against using tech to sleep better.
It’s the implementation of the phrase “Whatever makes you sleep at night” but quite literally.
On one hand, excessive screen time before bed can disrupt sleep patterns, while on the other, various apps and devices offer tools for monitoring and improving sleep quality.
What matters is how you use this tech – if at all you need it.
I’d still recommend a very natural method of falling asleep and getting up. Humans functioned well before tech and they will continue to function hereafter as well.
Rather than tech, some supplements will aid in promoting better sleep like melatonin to magnesium. Understanding these supplements and their appropriate usage can contribute to a more restful night’s sleep.
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The bottom line is that your survival is heavily based on how well you let yourself sleep too.
In the pursuit of peak performance, it’s essential to recognize the integral role that sleep plays in achieving your goals.
By prioritizing (quality) sleep, you adopt healthier habits and are naturally able to perform better in your day-to-day activities.
This is something that I always emphasize the most when I talk to my clients.
And guess what?
Sleep is just one aspect I work on with my clients to optimize their performance.
There’s so much more a human body needs to optimize in order to manage regular stress levels and achieve peak performance. And if you want the same optimization for yourself, YOU GOTTA TALK TO ME.
And to help you ahead, I have something special for you. If you book a 2-hour session with me right away, I’ll be offering a 50% discount for you.
How’s that for a good night’s sleep? 😉
