The “Hustle Culture” has sold men a lie: that sleeping is for the weak and that you can grind your way to success on four hours of rest. Let me be clear: Sleep deprivation is not a badge of honor; it is biological stupidity.
When you sleep less than seven hours, your prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and logic—goes offline. You become emotional, reactive, and dumber. Your insulin sensitivity plummets, meaning your body starts storing fat like a diabetic even if you eat clean.
In the context of men’s health, sleep is the foundation. It is the only time your brain cleans itself of neurotoxins (via the glymphatic system). If you consistently shortchange your sleep, you are significantly increasing your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Stop bragging about how tired you are. It makes you look inefficient, not hardworking. Build a sleep routine with the same discipline you apply to your business. Dark room, cool temperature, no screens. If you cannot discipline yourself to go to bed on time, you cannot discipline yourself to lead.