Sleep deprivation — a rising concern among expats

Success is often equated with the number of nights sacrificed. We've been misled into thinking that compromising sleep is necessary for professional achievement, financial success, academic excellence, and more. We count success based on what it looks like from the exterior — position, status and money earned; the kind and number of cars owned; handbags and clothes, not realising that all of this means nothing without health.

What we perceive as success is merely a surface view; we don't see the behind the scenes struggles – compromised health, pain, suffering, anxiety, and reliance on sleeping pills and drugs. Success doesn't guarantee happiness; in reality, high-profile individuals often grapple with issues like suicides, depression, and broken relationships. In fact, observing top executives and CEOs facing lifestyle diseases, obesity, and emotional challenges despite their achievements prompted me to address this gap. It became my motivation to work in Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine, guiding individuals on the significance of sleep and overall well-being.

Add sleep to your equation of success.

Sleep is everything, and it's a myth that the most successful people sleep less. Sleep rejuvenates, repairs, heals, protects, grows, balances, and so much more. Human beings are the only species that sacrifice sleep to fulfill their career, professional, social, and personal goals, to live and achieve more. Burnout, due to a lack of rest, sleep, and focus on health or eating right, is a common phenomenon today.

The science of sleep is undebatable. The laws of nature never change, like the laws of gravity, motion, electricity, cause, and effect, no matter how advanced and jet-set our lifestyle gets. There are enough instances and scientific evidence to support the connection between sleep deprivation and sickness. It is the number one reason for low immunity, poor growth, delayed healing, bad moods, mood swings, crazy cravings, belly fat, and rapid ageing, all of which are critical for success in any area of life. In fact, the night shift is classified as a "carcinogen 2A," which means cancer-causing, yet we take sleep for granted.

Often, people, in their defence, will say, "...but I am resilient." This is a very carelessly used statement. Building a company, a brand, or success of any kind at the cost of health is a failure. Not success.

Rest is where magic happens. When we rest, we rest the body, mind, and heart. Thinking the faster we move, the faster we will achieve our goals and wealth is a huge misunderstanding. Rest daily, as it will rejuvenate every cell in you. You can still achieve what you want, but with adequate rest, you will be able to without destroying the beauty of the body, mind, and heart.

Our bodies only care about survival

Our body does not concern itself with our company goals, profits, or the number of meetings planned throughout the day. What our body cares for is survival, and it will do anything for that. Sickness, in essence, is our body's way of trying to slow us down. Therefore, challenging nature and its perfectly designed circadian rhythm serve no purpose. Even the best treatments, medicines, doctors, nutritionists, spiritual healers, or yoga experts cannot effectively address a body that is sleep-deprived. The crucial processes of healing, recovery, detoxification, repair, muscle growth, and fat loss occur during sleep.

You do not have 24 hours in a day!

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