For a long time, I wished I was one of those people who could thrive on five or six hours of sleep.
I’m not.
I’ve learned that if I want to perform at my best, I need at least seven hours of quality sleep. More is even better.
Could I get by on less?
Probably.
Would I be operating at my best?
Absolutely not.
As an entrepreneur, it’s tempting to wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. We celebrate late nights, early mornings, and the idea that the people who sleep the least somehow want success the most.
I don’t believe that’s true.
In construction, my decisions affect projects, employees, subcontractors, schedules, budgets, and clients.
Those decisions deserve my full attention.
When I’m well rested, I’m more patient.
I communicate better.
I solve problems faster.
I make fewer mistakes.
I’m simply a better leader.
That’s why my wife and I made a decision that some people might think is strange.
We bought the best mattress we could afford.
We invested in quality sheets and bedding.
Not because they’re luxuries.
Because they’re tools.
If I spend roughly a third of my life sleeping, then the quality of that sleep directly impacts the quality of the other two-thirds.
I’ve stopped looking at sleep as lost time.
I see it as preparation.
It’s no different than maintaining equipment on a job site.
A contractor wouldn’t expect a machine to perform at its best without proper maintenance.
Why would I expect that from myself?
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that success isn’t built only by working harder.
Sometimes it’s built by taking better care of the person doing the work.
For me, getting enough sleep isn’t a sign of laziness.
It’s one of the reasons I’m able to bring my best energy, focus, and judgment to the people who count on me every day.