Elon Musk is renowned for leading the forefront of ushering in the technological revolution and pushing boundaries of the impossible. The billionaire’s life has been an intriguing one and has been an intriguing subject to investigate, specifically focusing on his sleeping habits. Even though Elon’s hectic lifestyle may imply he doesn’t have time for a standard sleeping pattern, there are certain routines that Elon follows to maximize his productivity.
Musk’s day is jam-packed with Managing Tesla, SpaceX, and other business interests. With such a daunting agenda, it’s no surprise that Elon Musk is known as a sleep depriver. However, Musk encourages other entrepreneurs to follow his lead and get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep.
Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can cause increased stress, irritability, reduced concentration and creativity, and impaired performance.Insufficient sleep can lead to a decrease in a person’s overall health and well-being. So for people like Elon Musk, who have stressful lifestyles, it is even more important to get the right amount of sleep.
Musk has stated in an interview that he gets between six to six and half hours of sleep each night. Notably, he puts a greater emphasis on efficiency rather than quantity.He has said that he will focus on squeezing in restful and productive sleep rather than clocking in a lot of hours. Musk claims this way, he wakes up more invigorated and focused.
The billionaire has also explained how he tries to maximize the quality of his rest. He avoids caffeine in the evenings, in order not to disrupt the brain’s neurotransmitters.sleep cycles. Instead, Musk prefers to drink herbal tea to relax his body and mind for bed. He’s also a believer in the power of calming music. Musks also swears by some light stretching as it helps him accurately gauge how exhausted he is.
Time management plays a huge role in Musk’s daily routine. By allocating each hour to a particular task, he is able to maximize productivity while still having enough time to rest up. Musk also creates a schedule to account for unexpected events. This schedule ensures that he can still get enough sleep, even when the day takes an unexpected turn.
Sleep Posture
In order to achieve the best quality of sleep, Elon must find the right sleep posture. Musk prefers sleeping on his side, which is backed by medical studies. Sleeping on the side can reduce snoring, alleviate lower back and neck pain, and can help people sleep better.
Recent research combines ancient sleep wisdom with the latest science on sleep positioning to prevent snoring, back pains, heartburns, and more. When sleeping on their sides, people enjoy greater control of their breathing and essential organs. It also opens the airways to help reduce symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring. For people with GERD, side sleeping helps prevent stomach acids from traveling upward.
Bedtime Rituals
Apart from a regular sleeping schedule, Elon Musk has found a way to establish bedtime rituals. This is the hour before bedtime that is dedicated to rest, self-care and relaxation. Since the hour preceding sleep is crucial, Musk opts for activities that quiet his mind and help him get ready for the restful sleep he wants.
He begins the hour by tuning out of the digital world, avoiding screens and phones. Unplugging from the digital world signals to the body and mind that it’s time to relax and prepare for sleep. Musk has also taken to drinking a cup of tea or a glass of warm milk, as it helps him enter into a relaxed state before turning in for the evening.
The billionaire also swears by meditations and guided imagery. These help him to bring his breath and mind in congruence, end the day’s thoughts and feelings, and focus on his well-being. Leaving the day’s hassles and anxieties in the past allows him to enter into restful sleep.
Power Naps
As alluded to earlier, Musk puts emphasis on efficiency rather than quantity when it comes to sleep. is this is why he turns to Power Napping to refresh his energy and focus. Essentially, Power Naps last between 10 to 30 minutes, which can be enough to revive energies and refocus.
A study by Saarland University showed that 20-minute naps are much more effective than coffee or a energy drink in re-energizing the body.This implied that a 20-minute nap was more successful at restoring energy and concentration than other forms of stimulants.
Musk believes that rather than compromising on sleep in order to complete tasks, new techniques should be devised to complete the same tasks with less work. A power nap is an example of such a technique, as it allows the body to restore energy and focus small chunks of time.
Hydration and Nutrition
It’s well established that drink lots of water, maintain a healthy weight and eat nutritious meals will help you sleep better. To his credit, Elon Musk has embraced these basic tenets of healthy living. Living a healthy lifestyle helps the body use energy more efficiently, and better equips it to manage the stress of life.
Musk starts his day with a healthy breakfast. This helps jump-start his day with the right blend of nutrition and energy.As the day goes on, he ensures that he maintains energy levels by eating a balanced diet that includes high-quality proteins and carbohydrates.
Musk has also integrated the 6:1 rule, where he drinks 6 glasses of water for every cup of coffee or alcohol. Studies have shown that consuming a gallon of water a day can help people sleep better. Drinking lots of water helps flush out unnecessary toxins from the body so the muscles can relax and the mind can drift into a state of peaceful sleep.
Sunlight Exposure
Besides helping prevent seasonal depression and insomnia, sunlight also regulates sleep cycles.Sunlight helps the body synchronize its circadian rhythms which tell us when to be active and when to be tired. By getting adequate sunlight during the morning, Musk can reset his internal sleep clock, allowing him to fall asleep at a reasonable hour.
Research suggests that exposing yourself to bright lights in the morning – preferably the natural light of the sun – can improve sleep patterns. Throughout the day, Musk sets aside time to go outdoors and expose himself to natural light, as it helps him to reset his internal sleep clock.Sneak in a few minutes of bask in the sun can make a huge difference in one’s sleep quality.
Stimulus Avoidance
Avoiding any form of stimulation in the hours leading up to bedtime is essential for getting good sleep. That means, shutting off all computers, tablets, mobiles, televisions. Every night before bed, Musk puts away all of his devices, so he can go to sleep without the distraction of stimulating content.
Although technology-inspired activities may seem mundane, they can have a huge impact on sleep. Technology not only affects your sleep quality, but it can also increase your stress levels and cortisol production. Choosing to optimize your space by unplugging all technology an hour before bed thus helps you reach higher levels of restfulness.
Bedtime Mantra
Elon Musk strongly believes in the power of affirmations and has constructed a ‘Bedtime Mantra’ that allows him to relax and reflect while helping him progress. Through mantras, he focuses on the positive aspects of his life, ones that make him feel appreciative and warm. This allows him to concentrate on Good things, calm his mind, and turn off his worries for the night.
These positive vibes cause the body to produce serotonin, which is known to relax the mind and induce sound sleep. Developing such an approach and instilling it into your own bedtime routine can allow you to look forward to a positive and restful night’s sleep.
