Sleep has become an effective business strategy today; you heard it right because the hours you rest are the hours that help you earn more. If you are working more than 49 hours a week, it does not get you more; even each extra hour gives you less.
In the long term, it can harm your health. If you work 55 hours or more in a week, the possibility of stroke or a heart problem goes up. So it is better to work a normal number of hours and get the required hours of sleep.
Sleep as a Business Strategy: Why Working Longer Is Not Always Working Better
Key takeaways
- Economist John Pencavel says you can raise output with hours up to about 49 hours a week.
- As per the WHO, working 55 or more hours a week causes a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease.
- A fixed wake-up time, one rest day a week and quiet hours from work can boost productivity.
The hustle culture treats tiredness and exhaustion as a symbol of commitment. The data says tiredness is a cost, and the business pays it.
The discussion has been ongoing in India for a long time. In 2023, Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy said young Indians should work 70 hours a week; his statement created a national-level debate. He shared his concern about India’s low productivity, and it is an actual issue.
70 hours in a week means 14-hour shifts daily; if you add eight hours of sleep, then just two hours are left for the commute, meals and family. Now the same question arise: will it fix productivity?
Long Working Hours and Sleep Deprivation
A joint WHO and ILO study in Environment International in 2021 estimated that 745,000 people died in 2016 from stroke and ischaemic heart disease linked to working 55 or more hours a week. Compared with a 35- to 40-hour week, long hours carried a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease.
Emotional control is one of the first things that is missed in long working hours. When a business leader or founder is tired, he strives to get shortcuts and defensive reactions, and that break trust amid stakeholders. Sleep deprivation further causes shorter attention spans, brief microsleeps, slower reactions and more mistakes on an ordinary workday.
The Right Strategy for Better Sleep
Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep; this range is considered healthy. To ensure maximum productivity in your work, make a routine, wake up at the same time every day, cut screen use just before bedtime and exercise during the day. Choose an hour in your day when you will not check work messages, and take one full day off from work each week.
Founders can help their teams follow the same rules. Having a digital sunset with no internal emails, chats, or expected replies between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. can make this happen. The best part is that it does not cost a lot. In India, the toughest part is breaking the misconception that the person who leaves last is working hardest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hustle culture?
This concept means the belief that working long hours and being constantly available can ensure your success. In offices, it is shown as late-night emails, calls skipped breaks and feel pride in a packed calendar. Health experts say this is a toxic narrative that glorifies exhaustion.
Can I catch up on sleep over the weekend?
You can cover some part of sleeping hours during the weekend. Research summarised by Deloitte says a ten-hour night does not fully repay a six-hour night before it. Plus, quality and consistency are as important as quantity.
Why is it hard for remote teams to switch off?
Dr Carlos Nunez of Resmed told Forbes that people working remotely or in hybrid workplaces work more hours. They do not disconnect even after the scheduled hour because stacked video meetings and constant messages keep the mind busy at night.
Is a 70-hour work week good for India?
Expert do not support it, India already works a lot. Ramachandran reports that Indians’ average annual hours have been above 2,000 for the last decade. He even rgues that employer should be more focused on improving sleep and overall health in employees to ensure better outcome.
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