In a society that primarily prizes productivity over sleep and work/life balance, it's become increasingly difficult to be able to pause. The very idea of kicking back and doing nothing for even a moment immediately prompts guilt to start prickling at the edge of one's subconscious, trying to utilize shame as a means to get back into the "natural rhythm" of work being at the forefront. However, getting rest and integrating time to relax into one's busy schedule without guilt can ultimately lead to a happier and more productive life.
An indisputable fact is that sleep deprivation is detrimental to brain function. According to the Society for Neuroscience, sleep deprivation has been shown to negatively affect several brain networks that control cognitive abilities and behavior due to a reduction of metabolism and blood flow to multiple regions of the brain. Further, The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical Schoolstates that both the quantity and quality of sleep have profound impacts on the ability of an individual to learn and remember key facts. As a result, perhaps pulling that all-nighter might do more harm than good in the long run.
Further, working more than 40 hours a week leads to little to no benefits and can ultimately serve to be counterproductive. Several studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control clearly demonstrated that working beyond the standard 40 hours work week leads to a jump in injury rates, illnesses, and/or mortality. After a certain point, productivity diminishes as a result of strain on the worker and the worker might have better been served by taking a break to unwind instead.
On the other side of the spectrum, the benefits of meditation have been well documented. Meditation induces various neurological changes such as an increase in density of grey matter in the hippocampus and a decrease in density of grey matter in the amygdala. Increased grey matter density in the hippocampus would be beneficial to one's ability to learn and remember, allowing one to more efficiently work. On the other hand, decreased grey matter density in the amygdala would lead to a decrease in anxiety and stress.
Though it's incredibly easy to let one's health fall by the wayside "temporarily" to achieve a long-term goal, such a mindset can serve to be ultimately detrimental both to one's productivity and overall well-being. Being single-minded in determination while pursuing a goal is a wonderful characteristic, but setting aside time to sleep and unwind enables both long-term happiness and success.
