The secret to better work productivity is a good night’s sleep. Rather, it can be said that the best kept secret to high productivity is quality sleep.

It’s also a commonality between the most successful people on the planet.

On that note, Hirav Shah, the most influential business transformation leader of India, explains the sleeping habits of people who knows how to climb up the corporate ladder, how to in this article below…

Sleeping Habits of 5 Successful Personalities

1. Oprah Winfrey

Born on 29 January 1954 (currently in her 69th year), Oprah Winfrey reportedly gets eight hours of sleep between the hours of 10pm and 6am, with her last and first thoughts of the day centered upon immense gratitude.

In the morning, rather than checking out her phone, the talk show host, author, and philanthropist brushes her teeth and cares for her dogs before straightway heading to her home gym.

“I have never fixed an alarm, I don’t believe in them. My first thought once I wake up is, ‘Oh, I’m alive. Thank you!’

“I usually get into bed and I have volumes and volumes of gratitude journals by my bedside. The last thing I do before I go to sleep is write five things that gave me immense pleasure or that I was grateful for”-Quoted Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah’s routine is most likely inspired by the advice of her sleep doctor Dr Michael Breus, who says:“The secret to sleep is to pay deep attention to what you’re doing in those precious few hours before bedtime.”

2. Jeff Bezos

Born on 12 January 1964 (currently in his 59th year), Amazon’s Founder and Executive Chairman accepts that while it can sometimes be next to impossible, he prioritizes eight hours of sleep, choosing to go to bed and get up early.

Bezos is also strategic with his use of time, fixing his most important meetings before lunch. His mornings are spent doing homely activities like going through the newspaper and having coffee with his family.

Jeff Bezos had quoted-“For me, I require eight hours of sleep. I can think better, I have more energy, my mood is much better”.

“Anything that’s going to be really mentally taxing is a 10am meeting, because by 5pm I’m like, I can’t think more about this issue today. Let’s try this again tomorrow at 10am. My pottering time is crucial to me, so that’s why I set my first meeting for 10 o’clock.”

3. Jack Ma


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Born on 10 September 1964 and presently in his 58th year, the Co-Founder and former Executive Chairman of Chinese ecommerce site Alibaba doesn’t let daily stress and worries stop him from having a restful night’s sleep, stating that nothing and absolutely nothing keeps him awake at night.

Ma knows that there will always be demands and disputes in business that need to be overcome, but he doesn’t allow these hindrances to impact his sleep.

His suggestion is to “sleep well no matter what”

“I know if I cannot sleep well the issues will still be there. If I sleep well, I have a chance tomorrow to combat them.”- Quoted Jack Ma.

4. Elon Musk

Despite managing numerous businesses, including SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink and The Boring Company, Elon Musk, born on 28 June 1971 and presently in his 51st year makes sure, he gets six hours of sleep a night, claiming that this much suffices.

“I tried sleeping less, but then total productivity is reduced. I don’t find myself wanting more sleeping hours than six [hours]. I do work a lot. Usually I work until one or two in the morning. Saturday and Sunday mostly not, but sometimes.”-Quoted Elon Musk.

5. Warren Buffett

Born on 30 August 1930 and currently in his 92nd year, World’s top investor Warren Buffett values his sleep very much and packs off to bed by 10.45pm to enjoy a full eight hours of good sound sleep. This is crucial, as 80 per cent of his days are spent reading, which needs a lot of mental energy.

“I get quite a good bit of sleep. I like sleeping so I will usually sleep eight hours a night”- Warren Buffett had Quoted.

Sleep Like a Winner: The Habits of the World’s Most Successful Personalities explained by Hirav Shah

“Sleep is the best meditation.”

Explanation: This quote by the Dalai Lama highlights the deep restorative power of sleep, suggesting that it not only rejuvenates the body but also clears the mind. Sleep plays a crucial role in enhancing mental clarity and focus.

Strategy: Prioritize sleep as an essential tool for maintaining mental health and focus, allowing it to foster creativity and calm.

Execution: Schedule 7-9 hours of sleep each night, establishing a consistent sleep routine to ensure optimal rest for both mind and body.

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

Explanation: Benjamin Franklin’s famous proverb emphasizes the benefits of a disciplined sleep schedule, advocating for early rising as a key to success.

Strategy: Develop the habit of waking up early, which gives you a head start on the day and allows for productive and proactive hours before distractions arise.

Execution: Set a regular bedtime and wake-up time, ensuring that you get sufficient rest while setting yourself up for a productive day.

“Your future depends on your dreams, so go to sleep.”

Explanation: This quote by Les Brown reminds us that sleep is essential for dreaming and envisioning a successful future. Adequate sleep improves brain function, creativity, and decision-making.

Strategy: Use sleep as a catalyst for personal growth by ensuring your rest leads to enhanced vision and greater clarity in your goals.

Execution: Maintain a balance between work and rest, dedicating time each night to proper sleep so that you can start each day with renewed purpose.

“I believe in sleep. It’s incredibly important. It’s like you get the chance to recharge, and you wake up the next day and you’re ready to go again.”

Explanation: Ariana Huffington highlights how sleep is vital for performance and productivity. Rest gives individuals the energy to tackle each day’s challenges with clarity and vigor.

Strategy: Treat sleep as a non-negotiable activity for recovery and regeneration, ensuring that you wake up fully prepared to tackle daily goals.

Execution: Incorporate rest as a critical aspect of your routine, aiming for quality sleep by reducing distractions before bedtime, such as screen time or caffeine.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

Explanation: Walt Disney’s philosophy extends to sleep in the sense that action is key—take the necessary steps toward good rest rather than procrastinating, ensuring a fresh start the next day.

Strategy: Focus on actionable sleep habits, such as setting up an optimal environment for rest, and make sleep a priority, just as you would any other task.

Execution: Establish a “wind-down” routine every evening, incorporating relaxation techniques like reading, journaling, or meditation to ease into sleep effectively.

These quotes from successful individuals highlight the importance of sleep in fostering a productive, clear, and successful life.

Final Thoughts

Here are few lines on tips to get a good night sleep. Improving, and your sleep quality is vital for your productivity because the restorative part of sleep, including the portion that helps solidify information into your memory, takes place in the stage of sleep called rapid eye movement (REM).

So, don’t get sleep-deprived because it’s essential for your productivity at work, and also it’s vital for your physical and mental health-Concludes Hirav Shah, Renowned Business Enhancement Expert.