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| Do you work hard and yet struggle with productivity? This may be your solution! | Image by: Domenico Loia |
The last few years I have really struggled with productivity. Although I was determined to do more and I was trying hard, I was not able to give my best output.
I tried many hacks and made many plans, but nothing seemed to click.
After many years of trying hard and putting in the effort, I finally realised what the issue was.
And I can almost certainly say that even you struggle with it, and it’s very likely affecting your productivity, too.
So, What Was The Issue?
The problem was that I was tired!
I didn't even realise this back then because I was so used to forcing myself to keep going, but my mind and my body were just too tired to effectively carry out my plans. I was mentally and physically drained.
I just couldn't calm my mind down to put enough focus on whatever I was trying to do. And the fatigue was overwhelming as well.
Eventually, I realised my core issues, and when I started troubleshooting them, I started feeling better. My focus improved, fatigue disappeared, and my mind got quieter.
But this isn't something exclusive to me. Many struggle with it. The issue for many of us is a tired mind and a tired body— especially if you are one of those who are trying to hustle hard.
If you have big dreams and big goals, chances are you are trying very hard to get things done. However the issue is, being in a constant go-go mode eventually takes a toll on your mental and physical health. You may feel completely exhausted physically and depleted emotionally. In more severe cases, you may even experience burnout.
This state of being physically and emotionally exhausted can make it seem like everything sucks, and there will be a general lack of focus, concentration, attention, and overall low energy to do anything well at all.
Proper rest is, therefore, non-negotiable.
What Is The Best Productivity Hack That Can Maximise Your Output In Life?
The answer is: Sleep.
Yes, sleep is a productivity hack, and you’ll know why.
The reason is more than just getting proper rest. There is more to it.
Improper sleep can affect you in many ways, and reduced efficiency is just one of the side effects of poor sleep.
So, let’s see what are the cognitive side effects of sleep deprivation, that can reduce your productivity significantly.
Side-Effects Of Lack Of Sleep That Can Affect Your Productivity
Let's start with the most obvious thing. A lack of a proper night’s sleep will lead to increased daytime sleepiness. If you are not alert during the daytime, how do you expect to give your best?
Sure, you may drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks to cope, but that will further disrupt your sleep at night. I have been loading my system with caffeine every day for the last decade. I can confidently say that the clarity of thoughts you experience following good sleep is superior to the temporary alertness caffeine buys you.
I only realised this once I started focusing on improving my sleep. The feeling is something nothing else can provide.
There are many other cognitive consequences of sleep deprivation. Poor attention, focus, concentration and reduced ability to learn new things are other side effects of inadequate sleep. You may even face difficulty remembering and memorising things because lack of sleep also affects our long-term memory.
Another major side-effect of improper sleep from a productivity point of view is reduced motivation. Staying motivated is an important factor that helps us keep going and push through difficult days. But when you don’t sleep well, even that is compromised.
On top of reduced motivation, you may also experience anxiety and mood disturbances. Emotional resilience is important for balanced decision-making and staying strong when things get heavy. But when you don’t sleep well, you experience mood swings, your anxiety and symptoms of depression may worsen, and you may even experience a lot of headaches.
And you know what’s the worst thing? Most of these effects can be experienced just with one night of improper sleep.
However, the important point to keep in mind is that sleeping well can solve and prevent these issues. Sleeping well will allow your natural abilities and skills to shine and help you learn new things effectively.
Prioritise Sleep For The Sake Of Productivity.
Now that you know how negatively poor sleep can affect your productivity, tell me this: Can you ever showcase the best of you with all these side effects?
The fact is: that you can never be productive without proper sleep. So, please start treating your sleep requirements as a necessity. It will yield many productivity and health benefits.
Sure, you can push through for a while, I did too. But then one day you will crash, and that crash will be so severe that you may not be able to function very well for a long time. That just isn’t worth it.
So, please prioritise your sleep if you want to be more productive. Sleep more to be more productive.
How much to sleep?
Most adults need about 7-9 hours of sleep each night. However, I recommend you listen to your body and sleep depending on your body’s requirements rather than the generalised numbers. Most will fall under the 7-9 hours category, but if you need 10 hours of sleep to be the best version of yourself, do it.
What else can you do?
In addition to having a good night's sleep, you can further boost your productivity by taking some time out each day to sit quietly. This will allow your mind to calm down. You can incorporate this time during your regular break times at office hours, or set a specific time slot whenever you're at home. You can also sit quietly for a moment whenever things get overwhelming.
In Conclusion: Sleep Well To Be Your Best Productive Self
I’m sure, like most, sleep is the last priority for you. Maybe you want to do more in life, so you sleep less. Sometimes you are forced to cut sleep because you need more time to fulfil your responsibilities. I understand. I have been there. It’s not always easy.
But we do need to start treating sleep as a necessity, and not a luxury—because it is a necessity. We need to change this mindset of hustling more and sleeping less. It’s not good for you in any way— not mentally, not physically, not emotionally.
So sleep well to be more productive.
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