Freelancing offers unprecedented freedom. One of the biggest perks is having total control over your schedule. You’re the boss. And what you say goes.

Want to join the 5 am club and finish all your work by noon? You can do that. Want to work at 2 am when inspiration strikes? You can do that, too. But there’s a fine line between working any time and working all the time.

If you want to give your freelance business the best possible chance of success, you need to take care of your body. One of the best ways you can do that is with a good night’s sleep. But why is sleep so important and how can it impact your freelance business? That’s what I’m hoping to shed a light on.

Here’s why sleep is essential for your freelance career, along with a few tips on how you can prioritize your rest as a freelancer.

Is sleep a waste of time?

We’re a culture obsessed with productivity. If you’re not hard at the grind, you’re wasting time. At least, that’s what some so-called gurus would tell you.

Hustle culture isn’t a new thing. It’s been around since the early 1900s with entrepreneurs like Thomas Edison leading the charge. Edison claimed to only sleep for 4 hours a day and demanded the same work ethic from his employees who often collapsed from exhaustion on the job.

For Edison and many of his contemporaries, sleep was an unproductive waste of time. “There is really no reason why men should go to bed at all,” said Edison in 1914. Some people still take these words to heart more than 100 years later.

The internet is full of people humble-bragging about pulling all-nighters or only sleeping for 4 hours. Because, according to their logic, “you can’t afford to spend ⅓ of your life asleep”.

In reality, you can’t afford not to.

The consequences of sleep deprivation

The National Sleep Foundation recommends 7-9 hours of sleep every night for adults. But can’t you get by with less and still squeeze in a few more productive hours?

You could. But it might cost you in the long run.

Long-term sleep deprivation has been linked to cardiovascular issues, strokes, and even Alzheimer’s disease. Things aren’t much better in the short term.

Losing sleep can impact your productivity. According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, sleep deprivation triples lapses in attention. If you’re too tired to see straight, your work could suffer. 

Sleep deprivation is also associated with increased susceptibility to the common cold. If you’re struggling with a cold on top of your exhaustion, it can be even harder to get quality work done.

So, depriving yourself of sleep to get ahead could be counterproductive.