No Limits: The Art and Science of High Performance

by Mukesh Bansal

SLEEP: THE MOST POWERFUL KEYSTONE HABIT Sleep is a truly powerful keystone habit. We read about the profound impact of sleep on both the body and the mind in earlier chapters. In a way, sleep is like a skill, affected by a series of small cues and routines. While many people struggle to fall asleep and get a good night’s rest, others fall asleep the moment their head hits the pillow, wake up energised and ready to take on the world. What is the difference between those for whom sleep is an uphill battle and those who fall asleep almost effortlessly? The differentiating factor is usually the routine that’s associated with sleep. Is your room conducive to a good night’s sleep? There should be no ambient light, no blinking electronic lights, a comfortable and clean bed, as well as the right temperature and humidity. Ensuring that the bedroom is a sacred space for rest, by keeping it free of gadgets and screens, can be a powerful step in creating a better sleep habit. For people who find meditation helpful in calming and clearing the mind before bed, tying this habit into the night-time ritual can be very useful. Do you go to bed around the same time every night to regulate your body clock so it expects to sleep at a certain time? Do you have a night-time ritual that you do in the same order every day? If you do, sleep becomes super easy, and with the foundation of good sleep, you wake up with the energy and positive attitude to face the challenges of the day. Without it, you ...