Many executives average just six and a half hours of sleep a night, yet sleep and rest are essential for sharp thinking, sound judgment, and creativity. The problem? Most leaders treat rest as something to be earned rather than a strategic necessity.
Gayle Lantz challenges the myths and beliefs about rest that keep leaders from getting the restorative downtime they truly need. As she explains, “Rest isn’t a reward that you earn by pushing yourself to the brink. It’s not lazy.”
Drawing on insights from Maya Angelou and Beethoven, Gayle explores different types of rest: physical, mental, emotional, and social, and why each matters for leaders navigating high-stress environments.
She emphasizes that our beliefs about rest often sabotage us more than a lack of knowledge about sleep hygiene. If you believe rest must be earned, or that it’s indulgent or lazy, you’ll never give yourself permission to truly recharge.
The key insight? Rest creates value. It fills your tank, sharpens your thinking, and gives you the energy to be the steady, reliable leader people can count on.
This episode covers:
- Why rest isn’t a reward but a resource
- The different types of rest leaders need (physical, mental, emotional, and social)
- Common beliefs about rest that get in our way
- Why “rest with guilt isn’t rest at all.”
- How rest is actually a strategic choice for better leadership
- The power of telling yourself you’ll feel better after rest
LINKS
Previous CEO On The Go Episodes:
Voice Your Vision – Steering Conversations to Achieve Your Biggest Goals #284