Are you actually more productive when you work longer hours or just more exhausted? In this episode, I talk with Christopher Barnes, Professor of Management and the Michael G. Foster Endowed Professor at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, about the ingrained belief that sacrificing sleep is the price of success and why that belief is costing you more than you think. Chris shares how leaders create “sleep-deprived cultures” through their behavior, from late-night emails to rewarding constant responsiveness. We break down what really happens to your brain when you’re sleep-deprived, the vicious cycle between anxiety and insomnia, and why being tired makes everything feel bigger, harder, and more urgent than it actually is. Tune in to learn how better sleep can make you sharper, calmer, and more effective.

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In this Episode, You Will Learn

00:00 Why working more hours doesn’t mean better performance.

02:15 Are leaders unintentionally rewarding sleep deprivation?

08:00 The tradeoff between working more hours vs. doing better work.

11:00 Why anxiety and insomnia reinforce each other.

12:30 Why everything feels more stressful when you’re sleep-deprived.

14:00 The cycle that keeps high achievers stuck in poor sleep habits.

17:00 What can you do when your boss expects you to overwork?

22:00 Ways leaders can encourage healthier sleep habits.

25:30 The long-term performance cost of sleep deprivation.

26:30 How circadian rhythms affect when you do your best work.

27:30 How flexible schedules improve performance.

28:30 The bias against people who don’t start early.

Resources + Links

Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever

Watch the podcast on YouTube 

Find more resources on our website morraam.com

Follow

Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam