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Why Business Owners Need Enough Sleep to Be Successful

Ryan Kh

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Restoring the Body and Mind, One Night at a Time

Catalyst for Business has always stressed that success is not just about working harder but also about working smarter. You may not realize it, but one of the most overlooked parts of that equation is the amount of sleep business owners get. We touched on this in a post on how business owners can try to relax more with technology.

Jessica Stillman of Inc. magazine writes that entrepreneurs are a famously sleepless lot. A study from Harvard University found 55 percent of CEOs get six hours of sleep a night or less. Keep reading to learn more.

Sleepless Concerns Are Growing

Alejandro Gonzalez wrote in GlobalData that these concerns have worsened this year. You can see the worry in Novuna Business Finance data showing the number of business owners waking up at night has reached a 10-year high.

It is troubling that sleeplessness has become so normalized in the business world. You may think sleep can be sacrificed for productivity, but the opposite is often true. There are plenty of examples of leaders burning out when they don’t give their bodies enough rest or take the right stress management practices.

Experts estimate over 15,000 retailers are going to close this year, which is twice as high as most previous years. It is fair to ask how much of that is tied to stressed and tired leadership. You should remember that tired minds make poor decisions.

You may think running on little sleep is a badge of honor. It is a dangerous belief, because success built on exhaustion is rarely sustainable. There are major risks when an owner is not thinking clearly about long-term strategy.

There are countless ways fatigue affects daily operations. You are less patient with your team when you are short on sleep. It is harder to solve problems with clarity when your brain is foggy.

It is true that some owners believe they can train themselves to need less rest. You should remember that science does not support that theory. There are limits to what the human body can adapt to, and ignoring them often shortens careers.

It is very clear that sleep deprivation is not just about health but also about profitability. You will see faster growth when you are mentally sharp. There are strong links between rest, leadership, and resilience.

When we talk about recovery from addiction, most people focus on the physical withdrawal, therapy, or nutrition. But there’s another key player in the healing process that often goes unnoticed: sleep.

Sleep is more than just a break at the end of the day. It’s when the body repairs, resets, and detoxifies itself. For anyone going through detox or early recovery, getting enough deep, restorative sleep is not a luxury—it’s essential for healing.

In this article, we’ll explore how sleep supports the detox process, why it’s often disrupted during recovery, and what you can do to restore your natural sleep rhythms.

The Link Between Sleep and Detox

Your body detoxifies itself 24/7, but a lot of that work happens while you’re sleeping. During deep sleep, the brain and body carry out important tasks that help you heal, including:

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, sleep is vital for brain detox. During sleep, cerebrospinal fluid washes through the brain, clearing waste that builds up during the day (NINDS, 2020).

Without enough quality sleep, this cleansing process slows down—leaving you feeling foggy, anxious, and less resilient in the face of stress or cravings.

Why Sleep Is Disrupted During Detox

It’s common to struggle with sleep when detoxing from substances. This happens for several reasons:

1. Brain Chemistry Imbalance

Substances like alcohol, opioids, and stimulants affect neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA—all of which play roles in sleep regulation. When substance use stops, your brain needs time to rebalance these chemicals.

2. Withdrawal Symptoms

Physical discomfort, anxiety, sweating, and cravings can all interrupt sleep during detox.

3. Emotional Restlessness

As the brain and body wake up without substances, buried emotions often surface. This emotional detox can make it hard to calm the mind at bedtime.

Research in Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation shows that up to 70% of people in early recovery experience some form of sleep disturbance (Angarita et al., 2016). Poor sleep during detox is also linked to a higher risk of relapse.

How Deep Sleep Supports Recovery

Not all sleep is created equal. Deep sleep—also known as slow-wave sleep—is the most restorative stage. This is when your body does the heavy lifting of healing.

1. Brain Detox

Deep sleep helps clear beta-amyloid and other waste proteins that can build up in the brain. This supports clearer thinking, better memory, and improved emotional regulation.

2. Tissue Repair

During sleep, the body releases growth hormones that repair muscles and tissues damaged by substance use or stress.

3. Emotional Reset

Sleep helps regulate the amygdala, the part of the brain that handles fear and emotional responses. This makes it easier to manage mood swings, anxiety, and irritability during recovery.

4. Immune Boosting

Your immune system gets a boost during sleep, which is vital after substances have weakened your body.

A study published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews found that even small disruptions in deep sleep can impair mood, increase stress reactivity, and slow down physical healing (Krause et al., 2017).

Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Restorative Sleep

If these symptoms sound familiar, don’t worry. Sleep can improve with time, support, and consistent care.

How to Improve Sleep During Detox

Sleep doesn’t always come easily in early recovery, but the right strategies can help you rebuild your sleep cycle naturally.

1. Create a Consistent Routine

Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day—even on weekends. This helps reset your circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock.

2. Make Your Sleep Space a Sanctuary

3. Practice Relaxation Before Bed

Gentle rituals signal to your body that it’s time to wind down.

Try:

A study in JAMA Internal Medicine found that mindfulness meditation helped improve sleep quality in older adults with moderate sleep disturbance (Black et al., 2015)—and it works just as well for those in recovery.

4. Get Sunlight Early in the Day

Exposure to natural light helps reset your circadian rhythm and promotes melatonin production at night—the hormone that helps you fall asleep.

5. Limit Caffeine and Sugar

Stimulants can increase restlessness and interfere with sleep. Avoid them, especially in the afternoon and evening.

6. Move Your Body

Exercise reduces anxiety and improves sleep. Even light movement like walking, stretching, or yoga can help regulate sleep patterns over time.

7. Talk to Someone

Sometimes, sleep problems are tied to unresolved emotions or trauma. Speaking with a counselor, support group, or sponsor can help you clear your mind before bed.

Gentle Sleep Support (If Needed)

Natural supplements may help in the short term—but always speak with a healthcare provider before taking anything, especially during detox.

Final Thoughts

Sleep is your body’s built-in healing system. During detox and recovery, deep rest gives you the strength, focus, and emotional stability to keep going—even on the hard days.

If you’re struggling to sleep right now, know that this is a phase, not a permanent state. With time, care, and consistency, your natural rhythms will return. And when they do, your healing will go even deeper.

So tonight, take a breath. Turn down the lights. Let your body know it’s safe to rest.

Because every good morning in recovery starts with a night of true, healing sleep.

Business owners face pressures that few others understand, but sleep cannot be treated as optional. You will not build sustainable companies if you are constantly exhausted, distracted, and reactive.

It is more than personal well-being; it is about giving your business the best chance to thrive. You should think of sleep as a competitive advantage, because being well-rested allows you to see opportunities and steer clear of mistakes.

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