Emulating the nocturnal regimens of celebrities and adopting their sleep trends has been a recurrent theme in popular culture. With a common rationale stating that if these individuals can maintain excellent productivity with rigorous sleep schedules, why should we be any different? One notable figure within this trend is Elon Musk, the contentious billionaire, who is part of the ‘sleepless elite.’ This group consists of overachievers who, remarkably, thrive on 4-6 hours of sleep. However, it’s crucial to note that this habit is not ideal for everyone, given the high-stress circumstances they often find themselves in. Sleep deprivation inflicts both immediate and long term damage, including disrupted cognitive performance and an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases.
A decent night’s sleep predominantly relies on the right bedroom environment (which should be cool, quiet and dark), maintaining regular sleep timings, and a peaceful pre-bedtime routine. Nevertheless, this doesn’t blend well with everyone. So, it’s natural if you are drawn towards the successful celebrities for tips and tricks. However, Musk should not be your role model in this aspect. This article dissects Elon Musk’s sleep patterns and explains why they may not lead to optimum productivity and success. We also provide some practical insight into how you can attain improved sleep quality.
Elon Musk upholds three detrimental sleep habits, the first of which is limited to only 6 hours of slumber. ‘I’ve tried less, but it leads to decreased productivity,’ Musk confessed in an interaction, stating that ‘the discomfort levels are intolerable if I get less than six hours.’ While sleep requirements significantly differ among individuals based on factors like age, gender, and overall health, the general guidance points to 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Acquiring any less leads to sleep deprivation symptoms, such as annoyance, excessive tiredness, and memory issues. Is six hours of sleep sufficient? Most likely, not. Studies reveal that sleeping for less than 6 hours can induce obesity, diabetes, anxiety, depression, among other conditions.
Musk’s second sleep habit consists of late-night bedtime, often past 1am. A recent review of Musk’s tweets indicates his downtime is usually between 3am and 10am, and he’s mentioned on a podcast that he frequently works until 1-2am. A varying chronotype in individuals results in diverse sleep preferences – some understandably become weary early in the evening, while others can remain active much later. So, if you’re acquiring 7 hours of sleep, surely bedtime shouldn’t matter, right? That’s a misconception. As per research, a bedtime later than 1am can negatively affect mental health and cause less REM sleep, subsequently impairing brain function.
The third questionable sleep practice that Musk follows is sleeping at his workplace. There’s ongoing gossip about Musk taking rest on the floor of his governmental department. This wouldn’t be surprising, considering similar past practices at Tesla and X. However, merging your workspace with your sleeping space can hinder your sleep quality. Good sleep hygiene etiquette suggests preserving the bedroom only for sleep. When we introduce work into our bedroom, we break the association between the bed/room and relaxation, hence, making it harder for our brain to shut off in the evening.
In contrast to Musk’s practices, here are some tips that can actually aid in better sleep and productivity. A steady sleep schedule is indeed a boon to your internal body clock, also known as the circadian rhythm. This rhythm regulates hormone levels, thus managing our energy levels. By sleeping and waking up consistently every day, we guide our body into a rhythm where it understands when to be active and when it requires rest.
This schedule is dictated by melatonin (the sleep hormone) and cortisol (the hormone that gets us out of bed in the morning.) Holding onto the given schedule even during weekends will help you fall asleep quicker, maintain sleep throughout the night, and feel more refreshed in the mornings, thus adding to more productive days.
Creating a soothing nighttime routine is highly beneficial. It’s unrealistic to move from a stressful day straight to bed without a period of destressing. Instead, the brain needs some time to switch into sleep mode, and this can be accomplished via a calming nighttime routine. Avoid looking at screens for about 30 minutes to an hour before bed and engage in relaxing activities, like reading.
Ensuring your sleeping space is tidy can also form a part of your nighttime routine. A clean and organized environment makes it easier to relax and disconnect from the day’s events. Good sleep hygiene is indispensable when it comes to acquiring a good night’s sleep.
Sleep hygiene fundamentally refers to habits we practice throughout the day and evening that positively or negatively impact our sleep. For instance, having three balanced meals during the day is a part of good sleep hygiene while munching on sugary snacks before bed demonstrates poor sleep hygiene.
Reflecting on your own lifestyle might bring some insightful understanding of whether any of your daily habits tend to compromise your sleep quality. Possible culprits could include your work habits, diet, physical activity levels and more. Remember, proper sleep is integral for maintaining overall health, and improvements can often lead to a significant increase in productivity and wellbeing.