Why “No Sleep, All Grind” Isn’t Leadership—It’s a Shortcut to Burnout

Melinda French Gates said something recently that stopped me:

“Trading sleep for productivity is so dumb.” 

She’s right (Fast Company, 2024).

For way too long, we’ve worn exhaustion like a status symbol. Busy has become a personality trait, almost a flex….proof that you’re working hard enough, caring enough, becoming “someone.” But what if the thing we’re proud of is actually the thing holding us back?

The cult of busy

We live in a culture that celebrates busyness more than balance.

We brag about being “so slammed,” scroll through #grindtok, and convince ourselves that the more tired we are, the more successful we must be. But here’s the truth: being constantly busy doesn’t make you impressive—it just makes you depleted. 

Deep thinking, creativity, and leadership don’t grow in overdrive. They grow in space.

My “I don’t need sleep” era

During my doctoral program, I thought I was unstoppable. I was working full-time at a university, raising two small kids, and pushing through a doctorate. I averaged three, maybe four hours of sleep a night.

And I was proud of it! I actually bragged about how little I slept—as if fatigue were a trophy for ambition.

Looking back, I can see how wrong that mindset was. I was constantly foggy, quick-tempered, and running on caffeine and adrenaline. I could crank out papers, but deep thinking? Real creativity? Not happening. I had built a lifestyle that rewarded endurance instead of insight.

That version of “success” doesn’t last. It erodes focus, empathy, and the self-trust that real leadership needs.

What science actually says about rest and leadership

Research backs it up.

A 2022 study in the International Journal of Educational Research Open found that college students with stronger academic self-efficacy—basically, belief in their ability to handle challenges—felt less stress and adjusted better to college life (Hitches et al., 2022). Confidence helps, but it collapses without rest.

And sleep isn’t just about feeling rested. It’s brain fuel. Melinda Gates points to studies showing how sleep strengthens memory, focus, and problem-solving—core skills for anyone leading, learning, or creating.

Movement helps too. A 2020 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that physical activity boosts both emotional intelligence and self-efficacy among college students (Wang et al., 2020). Translation: working out isn’t vanity, it’s strategy!

Rethinking what “productive” means

Here’s the shift:

• Rest is a skill. It’s how your brain files memories, repairs focus, and sparks new ideas.

• Stillness is data. When you slow down, you actually notice what matters.

• Movement is mindset. A walk, a run, a yoga session—it all counts.

Busyness might look impressive, but balance builds longevity. The goal isn’t to do everything. It’s to do what matters, and do it well.

What changed for me

When I finally started sleeping more, moving regularly, and giving myself permission to pause, everything sharpened. My writing got better. My ideas connected faster. I stopped reacting and started leading with intention.

Strong leaders don’t stretch themselves thinner, they build the stamina to keep showing up.

So, if you’re the kind of student who’s chasing excellence, please remember: you don’t earn success by burning yourself out. The smartest move you can make for your career, creativity, and mental health might just be going to bed.

References

Branham, E. M. (2024, May 14). Melinda French Gates on why trading sleep for productivity is “so dumb.” Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/91425513/melinda-gates-sleep-science

Hitches, E., Woodcock, S., & Ehrich, J. (2022). Building self-efficacy without letting stress knock it down: Stress and academic self-efficacy of university students. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 3, 100124. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666374022000036

Wang, K., Yang, Y., Zhang, T., Ouyang, Y., Liu, B., & Luo, J. (2020). The relationship between physical activity and emotional intelligence in college students: The mediating role of self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 967. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32581908/