I know there are people who can #NOSLEEPGANG their way across the world, I am not the best at this.
Over the course of the year I have completely wrecked my sleep cycle. For a while during covid I had a very regular schedule, something that I could maintain nearly daily. I definitely operated at a higher level of efficiency than I feel I have been lately.
The way my schedule works now I am literally working overnight Friday and Saturday. I get to bed around 6 AM and am awake by 11-12 because I can’t sleep more. Then the rest of the week, I’m up at 8 AM or so. Sometimes 9 when I let myself sleep in. My bed time varies.
I typically go to bed around midnight but lately there are all sorts of events and disruptions that throw late lights into the mix.
Sometimes I even wake up early for Uber.
I feel wrecked.
Sleep is actually really important to your health
I’ve heard several sciencey types do talks that have said that sleep is very important.
Particularly I learned about how sleep impacts weight loss. Sleepy you will end up in a situation where your body is in energy conservation mode. It slows down your metabolism.
Then you need to consider that when you are sleepy you will make terrible decisions. Apparently your reward center is in overdrive and so it kind of makes sense we make bad sex decisions at 4 AM more than at noon. Basically living in a sleep deprived state will mess up the way your body and brain process life.
Now I’m all about sacrificing sleep for the hustle. I do it far too often. But as I was reminded recently it can lead to long term health issues. This means that pushing it too hard and too long can mess you up for real.
The reality is it’s all about balance.
I’ve had to embrace naps to compensate for sleep
When I don’t get enough sleep for too long I get sick.
This means I need to make sure I can balance it all. Despite my dislike of sleeping too much in the day, I have had to embrace naps to make sure I’m more efficient. Staying awake and working tired leads to worse work.
I’m certain one day we can go re-read my articles and the ones I crafted sleep-deprived and rushed are going to read differently than the ones where I’m well rested. I’m somewhere in the middle today. I got a lot of sleep yesterday but it’s on the tail of too many days without enough sleep.
Sometimes I don’t get to take a nap. Like on Friday when I got 3 hours of sleep and then pushed a full night of Uber. I did get a 2-star for being rude. Bonnie warned me I may be rude to people, but I hustled on anyway. Instead I implied a customer had a trash pickup location after doing 20 minutes of traffic.
I also talked a little flagrantly at Max Mupesse’s interview because I hadn’t slept enough.
When you are in the hustle some days just play out like that for the opportunity.
It’s important to find a balance.
Planning things are complicated when chasing opportunity
I don’t know how to find a balance anymore.
I am blessed with the greatest of problems. I have so much going on that things are constantly busy and adventures are always being had. That comes with the cost of forgetting to do some basic stuff and I’m super grateful I don’t live alone.
If you are like me, find yourself someone who can watch the day to day so you can get lost in the big picture.
I’ve spent all year trying to get organized and failing. I keep getting caught up in the moment and chasing opportunities. Shit, tonight I’m going to try Monday overnight Uber. This will mean I start Taste late tomorrow and have to work late. It’s all manageable but it means another drastic sleep shift.
But I may end up in Vermont on Friday and need to test out ways to make up for lost weekend money when I do impulsive networking moves.
Sleep be damned when you are hustling.I know I cannot make this happen forever but while I’m able I am gambling on my sleep. At some point I need to get a stronger balance but for now we hustle.
Don’t be like me kids.Live Long and Prosper Everyone
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