Recharge your force via sleep

Have you ever come across colleagues or managers at work who seem to have tonnes of energy? And the amazing thing is that they have boundless energy day in and day out despite taking on heavy loads of work and stress? It is as if they are on a wonder drug. This group of people has what we call healthy habits.
Similarly, “10x leaders” know that health is key to being effective and high-performance individuals. Health is the “H” of the SHARP* model.
Let’s define what we mean by health. Health is not work-life balance. Health is not reducing stress. And health is certainly not about time management, either.
For 10x leaders, health is about managing stress and recovery. These leaders embrace stress. Yes, this is not a typo. Stress is a healthy thing, and 10x leaders know that some stress is necessary for growth and success.
Studies in the department of neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin are proving that the brain has built-in reward systems for achievement and discovery during periods of stress. Being awake and engaged in order to get something great accomplished under pressure produces “a high in the brain”.
So stop trying to reduce stress. Instead focus on recovery. Recovery allows your body and mind to recuperate from stress. Attitudes such as “work till you drop” will eventually do harm to your health. By all means work hard but give yourself a period of recovery. Athletes know this and have recovery routines built in as part of their training.
The best part of recovery is that it’s free. It’s called sleep! If you want to function at your peak, strive to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that in the United States, lack of sleep costs employers up to US$31 billion (Bt1.1 trillion) annually. The crew aboard the supertanker Exxon Valdez that ran aground in Alaska in 1989, destroying wildlife and spilling 258,000 barrels of crude oil, had just put in a 22-hour shift loading the oil on to the ship.
By all means, leaders and managers should inspire their employees to work hard and do their best. But don’t forget the other side of the coin: recovery. This is equally important. The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington highlights how leaders and companies can help employees be at their peak every day.
Occasionally burning the midnight oil is okay. Get your sleep and recharge your Jedi batteries. You will feel the force within you increasing exponentially while your stress will suddenly feel minute.

Suvit Chansrichawla is next-generation HR consultant under the brand Serendipity & Co, partner of the Curve Group in Thailand. *SHARP model developed by ex-Harvard professor Tal Ben Shahar and his colleague Angus Ridgway, ex-McKinsey head of leadership development.