🌙 Most leaders I work with don’t have a motivation problem… they have a sleep debt problem 🌙
- Olly Bridge
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
They’re driven.They care.They’re committed.
But they’re trying to lead complex systems on a partially charged brain 🔋
Here’s the part we often miss…
🧠 The science is very clear
Sleep isn’t passive rest.It’s an active biological process that restores the very systems leaders rely on most.
Peer-reviewed research consistently shows that insufficient sleep is associated with:
❌ Reduced prefrontal cortex activity, impairing judgement and impulse control (Killgore, 2010 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21075236/)❌ Heightened amygdala reactivity, increasing emotional volatility under pressure (Yoo et al., 2007 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17956744/)❌ Lower glucose metabolism in the brain, reducing focus and working memory (Thomas et al., 2000 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11123521/ )
In simple terms…when sleep is short, the emotional brain gets louder and the rational brain gets quieter 😬
This isn’t about willpower, it’s neurobiology.
⚖️ What this means for real leaders
Most executives don’t feel “sleep deprived”.They feel:🪫 Less patient🪫 More reactive🪫 Slower to decide🪫 Mentally foggy by mid-afternoon
And they normalise it… because everyone else is doing the same. But over time, that quiet erosion shows up in culture, relationships, and decision quality.
🔧 Small, doable shifts that actually help
This isn’t about perfect sleep. It’s about protecting enough of it.
Try one of these:
🌙 Aim for consistency, not optimisation… regularity matters more than hacks
🕰️ Set a non-negotiable lights-out window, not just a wake-up time☕ Keep caffeine before 2pm to protect sleep pressure📱 Create a 20-minute buffer between screens and bed
Small changes. Compounding effects 📈
Leadership isn’t just about thinking clearly. It’s about regulating yourself so others can feel safe, calm, and focused around you.
Sleep quietly underpins all of that.
Not as a luxury… but as a leadership responsibility.
At @Essentio Health and @Build a Bridge – Live Your Best Life, we help leaders protect the foundations that make sustainable performance possible… without adding complexity or guilt.
Because when leaders sleep better, organisations function better.
