Although I’ve always been a proponent of the value of getting a full night’s sleep for health, this is something that I haven’t been able to do for myself for many years. The people I know who are most committed to their careers and those for whom anything other than success is unacceptable have had a bad relationship with sleep.
I’ve heard some CEOs say that there will be time to sleep when they die, and other managers who expect their employees to forgo a good night’s sleep during the most important times of the year when presence at work is required for nearly twenty-four hours a day. I had a boss who, even during slower times, often worked in his office twenty hours a day and slept at his desk for the other four hours. This was many years ago, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he still does.
Studies have long shown the benefits of getting a full night’s sleep, and seven to eight hours each day seems to be the magic amount. Researchers continue to study sleep. A few years ago, sleep deprivation was linked to serious illness, and now it’s been found that there are superficial benefits, too; sleep makes people more attractive. There’s truth behind the phrase, “beauty sleep.”
It seems somewhat intuitive, but now we have the data to back up our assumption. Getting a full night’s sleep keeps you looking good. Anyone who is interested in earning more money should be interested in doing anything possible to seem more attractive to others because other studies have shown that, on average, people considered attractive earn more money.
As I’ve been basically working two full-time jobs for the past few years, I have not been able to live by my philosophy of the importance of a full night’s sleep. As of today, however, I am making my own hours, dedicated solely to the projects that I want to work on (such as Consumerism Commentary).
I don’t think I need to force myself to remain awake in order to build a successful business. In fact, I seem to have better ideas when my brain is operating well-rested. As I design and schedule my life without a corporate job in addition to the work I want to do, I will try to incorporate a good night’s sleep. I’m primarily motivated by the health benefits, but it wouldn’t hurt to lose the circles under my eyes, appear more attractive to others, and perhaps statistically earn more money.
Do you get a full night’s sleep? Do you think sleep has any noticeable effect on your attractiveness?
Want to look hotter? Hit the sack, MSNBC
Surprise! Pretty people earn more, CNN Money
Published or updated December 16, 2010.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I work 40+ hrs/wk most of the year and 65+ during tax time (guess what I do). Plus my wife is a full time stay-at-home mom. We seem to sleep between 5-8 hrs a night, but with three little ones under the age of three in the house it seems that we are ALWAYS tired.
As far as attractiveness goes, I would say yes it does affect one’s attractiveness, in respect to how sleep can have a positive effect upon one’s demeanor and general outlook on life; these two things, I think, being a major factor in attractiveness of a person beyond just physical attributes.
Attractiveness could be affected in many ways (as Latter-day Saver points out) but there are many who would be better served with less sleep and more time in the bathroom with make-up and or a hairbrush or a wardrobe consultant. Pilots have a required “downtime” built into their flight schedules and train engineers have to stand on a pressure switch just to make sure they stay alert. Of course the consequences of a quick nap for them are a lot worse than your head hitting your desk occasionally. Sleep is certainly important, as every medical study ever done on sleep has shown, but I’m not convinced it would do much for my attractiveness, for me, going from worse to bad is not really an accomplishment.
A short daily siesta doesn’t hurt either.
The two easiest and most productive changes you can make once you’re working on your own schedule is to sleep more and exercise more. Keeps your mind sharper and keeps you from gaining weight.
I was a serious insomniac; I was lucky to get 3 hours of sleep at one point. Now I’m sleeping more (averaging about 7 hours since I moved). Naps helped, but now I don’t have time.
I believe that sleep deprivation is a silent killer. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to sleep 8 hours every single night. You can sleep in a few times a week. I also find that stress and lack of sleep together are a major issue. Both can have a negative affect on your overall happiness and level of productivity.
I don’t get nearly as much sleep as I need, because I seem to need quite a bit — I feel well-rested when I get 9 hours. Realistically I get 6-7 hours a night. On the plus side though, I’m getting a lot more sleep than I did when I had sleep issues! Sleep deprivation is serious stuff.
When I was younger, there was a time when it was difficult for me to fall asleep at all, lying awake in bed for hours. This was long before Consumerism Commentary — now rather than lying in bed, I’m working, and by the time I retire to the bedroom, I’m actually tired, and I fall asleep much easier.
If I”m lucky I get 5 hours each night and about 7 on the weekends. As the blog grows, or I should say, as I try to grow the blog it takes more effort and I just don’t have enough time between my regular job and commute to get it done. Sleep makes me more attractive in that I don’t wake up with red eyes and bags under them, and I take the time to put myself together better.
Yes, I agree-sleep makes me better looking, more amiable, and smarter. I even take naps on the weed ends. The more sleep I get, the more productive I am. Flexo, good luck in your new endeavors, and go one-get some rest :)
We normally get a full night’s sleep. 11 pm-6 am for my husband, and 11 pm-7:20 am for me. Yes, we are more attractive for it, because we don’t look dead ;)
I always try to get enough sleep. I know people who say they run fine on little sleep, but you never know when your health deteriorates. Also, congrats on the official next step in your working life! ;)
Thanks, Eric!
It’s easy for someone to assume that they’re fine on little sleep, but actually measure things like reaction time and concentration and they’re not as alert and operational as they would be with healthy sleep.
I agree with Joyce Meyer, whom I heard say on a radio broadcast several years ago, “I have found if I do not get enough sleep at night, I look like an old hag in the morning….” This is, unfortunately, more and more true the older I get (I’m 51, and the older I get the harder it is to sleep well all night long, a side benefit/challenge that I know comes with aging). While raising my three children and being involved in sports, scouting and church, I found naps very beneficial, not for my looks, but because I was so tired some days. In my 50’s I rarely feel so tired, I do get more sleep, I’m a fitness instructor and exercise daily, and I definitely look better, in the mirror at least, when I get enough sleep.
Being the parent of two small kids I am totally in favour of getting enough sleep. I used to be one to try and squeeze more and more into my day, but found that I was simply getting more and more grumpy. Enough sleep was about the only thing that cured that – so I had to drop certain hobbies and other activities. Now its almost no TV or computer games and I read a lot less than I used to. But on the upside, I think it definetly helps with my decision making and makes me a better person.
My wife has been taking melatonin as a sleep aid. Lately, I’ve been trying it out. No verdict, yet, but I may try taking a bit more to keep me asleep all night.
One thing I’ve read is that light, especially blue light, will “zap” your melatonin. People with computers that are on with blue LED lights, or clocks with blue or green lights are bad for your sleep. I just happened to have a clock radio that has a red light.
I went to a science news site I read and did a search on “sleep.” Maybe ya’ll will see some things you don’t know.
Not just a full night’s sleep, but a good night’s sleep. I’m in the middle of getting diagnosed for sleep apnea (my wife already knows I have it). The effects of bad sleep are pernicious.
A good night’s sleep is so important in so many ways, for health, productivity, financial fitness, etc, but a lack of sleep does slow down reaction time, and that scares me with so many sleep deprived people driving…as if texting and driving, or talking on the phone and driving, aren’t bad enough!
I used to be able to function rather well on less sleep before this current job. It used to be 5-6 a night and I was good but now I need 7-8 to make it through. I’ve even started taking naps on my days off. Never thought I would feel this old!
YES!!! Both physically and mentally – I need at least 7-8 hours of solid sleep, and if I can’t get that – I need a nap – I do know that perhaps eating better, and exercise would help!