When we have a lot on our plate, the easiest thing to do is to work a little harder for a little longer.

If I can work one more hour a day, then every week, I’ve gained an extra seven hours of productivity.

Why not make it two extra hours a day? Fourteen more hours is very tempting. I could do a lot with that time.

But this game has a limit. At some point, decision-making faculties diminish. Energy levels tank. Fatigue wins.

* * *

Noteworthy: Jeff Bezos sleeps eight hours a day.

This isn’t because he’s asleep at the wheel. It’s because he knows that Jeff Bezos doesn’t scale well. There’s a limit to what he can do. He has teams of managers that he trusts, and he focuses on the big decisions that matter most. And he makes sure he’s well-rested enough to make those big decisions.

Yes, there are times when we sprint. Times when we have to burn the midnight oil. Times when we’ve got to dig in and sacrifice some sleep.

But in the long run — whether we’re a solopreneur or managing a multi-billion dollar company — we need a sustainable rhythm that includes enough self-care to keep us healthy and at our best.