How Sleep Impacts Your Success as an Entrepreneur by Cassandra Hill

Cassandra Hill is a Holistic Wellness Influencer, Life Coach, Best-Selling Author, and Speaker. After overcoming systemic lupus with a regimen she developed, Cassandra birthed Holistic Living Consulting. Her mission is to transform the health and well-being of black women.

Many factors influence your chances of success as an entrepreneur. A great business idea is a must-have, as is a passion for your craft and a dedication to making your company thrive. 

However, there's a crucial part of being a successful entrepreneur that many business leaders overlook: self-care. 

When you start your own business, it’s easy to get into the habit of working unreasonably long hours and pushing yourself extremely hard. However, the more you burn the candle at both ends, the more you risk your company and yourself. 

The key to maintaining a great business starts with being a healthy entrepreneur, and you cannot be healthy without a good night’s rest. 

The Link Between Sleep and Business Success

Sleep is one part of proper self-care that entrepreneurs should pay more attention to – but it is often neglected. Most business leaders take sleep for granted, assuming rest is a luxury they’ll be able to indulge in sleep when they reach their goal revenue.

Several studies have linked sleep to job performance. Sleep quality affects one's ability to adapt, and lack of sleep increases one's risk of depression and high blood pressure, among other issues. 

Reasons You Need More Sleep As An Entrepreneur

• Your brain needs sleep to survive: It actively needs to rest to get rid of the toxins and waste accumulated during the day. When you are awake and working, your brain can’t rejuvenate itself, so it begins to stagnate.
  
  You end up with headaches, trouble concentrating, and pain in your eyes. Even your attention span begins to suffer.
  
  

• Sleep deprivation ages the brain: Business success isn’t always a young lady’s game, but you’ll have a tough time competing if your brain is twenty years older than you are.
  
  Failing to get the right amount of sleep causes your brain to age and deteriorate faster, which means you struggle with mental performance. You might not produce as many ideas and may find it harder to focus. 

• You need sleep to make decisions. You must make many important decisions quickly. The wrong choice can destroy your business and the livelihood of everyone you’re connected to. 
  
  When you’re not getting enough sleep, it’s challenging to weigh the pros and cons of each option correctly. Lack of sleep can make you a poor decision-maker, and you start making dangerous business mistakes. 

• Sleeping makes you more creative: A good night’s sleep is essential for having a more creative mind. The more you rest, the easier it is to produce out-of-the-box ideas.
  
  You become bored and predictable if you fail to get the sleep you need. You need a dose of creativity to stay ahead of the competition.
  
  

Wrap-Up

If you are constantly exhausted, irritable, and rushed, a little extra shut-eye is all you need, Boss Lady. It might be hard to commit initially, but it will pay off eventually. 

Cassandra Hill, Transformation Agent for Black Women

Learn more about Cassandra at  www.cassandrarhill.com Instagram: @live.healthyforlife