⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

Why I Want My Employees to Sleep on the Job Burning the midnight oil and skipping sleep to gain a competitive advantage is something a lot of entrepreneurs and other professionals are tempted to do.

By Ryan Holmes

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

LinkedIn Influencer, Ryan Holmes, published this post originally on LinkedIn.

In the HBO sitcom Silicon Valley, performance-enhancing drugs like Adderall are used by characters to stay awake and focused during marathon coding sessions at their startup. But are prescription stimulants, cocaine and other drugs a real part of startup culture?

You betcha. In July, Miami-based addictions coach Cali Estes told newspaper reporters that, as someone who has worked with clients from Apple, Twitter, Facebook, Google and Yahoo, he can attest that the Silicon Valley drug problem is real. And it's "a lot worse than what people think because it's all covered up so well."

As the CEO of a tech company, I can relate. Not to the drug use, but to the incredible pressures that are often behind it. Burning the midnight oil and skipping sleep to gain a competitive advantage is something I've struggled with, especially back when Hootsuite was still a startup.

This problem certainly isn't confined to those in tech world. In the post-recession business landscape where good jobs continue to be hard to come by, more and more employees across all industries are working harder than ever, even if it means sleeping a lot less.

Related: How to be a Killer Marketer in the Digital Era (LinkedIn)

In fact, lack of sleep has become so widespread that the CDC recently declared it a public epidemic. People just aren't getting enough sleep, leading to consequences like literally thousands of traffic fatalities a year caused by drowsy drivers. Meanwhile, long-term health effects include increased risk for diseases like hypertension, diabetes, depression and obesity. Another study found that when people slept under six hours a night for a prolonged period of time, they ended up, in cognitive terms, legally drunk.

So what's the solution? And exactly how much sleep is healthy?

The National Institute of Health says adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night. However, if you look up the topic online, you'll quickly find highly varied recommendations. I found one that said 6.5 hours or less is adequate, while another suggested up to ten (based on a study involving serious athletes). I even came across one fascinating report that suggests humans naturally sleep in two four-hour increments, separated by a one- or two-hour waking "break."

The bottom line is that there's probably no magic recipe for sleep that fits us all. The key—as cliched as it sounds—seems to be listening to your body. It's not worth depriving yourself of sleep for an extended period of time, no matter how pressing things may seem. A good metaphor is running a marathon versus a sprint. In your job, you can sprint from time to time, but long-term success depends on maintaining a marathoner's steady gait.

Your body will thank you. Studies have shown that simply by sleeping more, we can live longer, be happier and less stressed and even become more creative.

Related: 5 Lessons I Learned Raising $250 Million For My Business (LinkedIn)

And employers are starting to listen to the science. In an interesting twist, many of the same tech startups so notorious for workaholic culture are taking the lead in ensuring employees get adequate shut-eye. Many companies (including my own) are putting nap rooms and sleeping pods in their offices, encouraging employees to catch a few winks on the job to avoid burnout. Universities and colleges have gotten in on the act, too. A recent study found that even a quick ten-minute power nap can help us boost focus and productivity.

Also growing in popularity are a variety of new personal tracking devices like Fitbit, Jawbone, and Basis—all with functionality aimed to help us sleep better and improve our lifestyles by leveraging data and technology. The newest and hottest gadget of the bunch of course, is the freshly unveiled Apple Watch—which could singlehandedly take the quantified self movement to a whole new level. Apple's customizable smartwatch unfortunately doesn't track sleep itself, but it's likely its accompanying software Healthkit or a companion app like the popular Sleep Tracker, will offer seamless integration.

Exciting times. (And hopefully more restful nights).

Ryan Holmes

CEO, HootSuite

Ryan Holmes is the CEO at HootSuite.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.