LOS ANGELES, USA – Bryan Johnson, a centi-millionaire and anti-aging expert, is taking a stand against the glorification of sleep deprivation in the business world. The founder of Blueprint, a health and wellbeing organization focused on age biohacking, Johnson is vocal about the importance of rest, especially among high-performing individuals.
Johnson, who founded Braintree before its $800 million acquisition by PayPal in 2013, has observed a worrying trend among successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, including figures like Elon Musk and Bill Gates, who previously boasted about their minimal sleep schedules.
In a recent interview on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Johnson, aiming to reverse his age to 18, emphasized his own sleep routine: “Sleep is the single most important thing any human does on any given day.” He goes to bed at 8.30 pm and eats his last meal at 11 am.
This stance is a marked shift from the prevailing attitude in business circles, where sleep deprivation is often worn as a badge of honour.
Johnson noted that many of his peers feel pressured by a ‘grind’ culture that equates less sleep with greater dedication and success.
The phenomenon is not new. High-profile business leaders like Peter Brown, CEO of Renaissance Technologies, have also publicly acknowledged their extreme sleep habits.
But as Johnson points out, this mindset is problematic. “If you want to achieve mythology-like status, you do that sleep deprivation thing,” he said, highlighting the cultural identity tied to this practice.
The tide, however, may be turning. More research underscores the critical health benefits of adequate sleep, linking good rest with reduced risks of chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression. Furthermore, studies have shown that lack of sleep impairs work performance and decision-making abilities.
A 2010 study on U.S. employees found that fatigue-related productivity losses amount to nearly $2,000 per employee annually. In the construction industry, poor sleep was linked to decreased job competence and higher injury rates.
“The person who prioritizes sleep is going to be higher performing,” Johnson added, referring to studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) comparing sleep deprivation to alcohol intoxication. “The people who don’t sleep are literally half dead.”
His concerns are supported by a 2020 study showing that sleep-deprived individuals tend to be more impulsive and take greater risks in decision-making.
As this cultural shift takes root, Johnson’s message is clear: It’s time to reevaluate and prioritize sleep, not only for personal health but for better leadership and decision-making in the business world.
