No Limits: The Art and Science of High Performance

by Mukesh Bansal

Sleep is another all-powerful drug to which we rarely ascribe the importance it deserves. And guess what? Sleep plays a role in exercising willpower as well. Chronic sleep deprivation leads to a decrease in reserves of willpower. The less we sleep, the harder it becomes to exercise self-control. There are multiple studies65 that confirm that after a sleep-deprived night, people are highly likely to miss their workout, eat more junk food, avoid making tough decisions or make decisions without due consideration, as their willpower reserves are depleted. After a good night’s rest, the willpower reserves are fully recharged, and you have enough self-control and awareness to go about your day mindfully, with a sense of purpose and deliberation. Without adequate sleep, you start the day on an empty tank and things get harder as the day progresses. On such days, you can limit the damage with a short fifteen-minute nap during the day if you can afford it.