287. Give It a Rest to Do Your Best: The Sleep Habits That Catalyze Your Communication

If you want to do your best, you’d better get your rest. The quality of your sleep fundamentally affects the quality of your communication. Communicating well, Dr. Cheri Mah says, starts with being well-rested. “Sleep impacts nearly every aspect of how you function,” says Mah, a sleep physician, adjunct lecturer at Stanford Sleep Medicine Center, and internationally recognized expert on sleep and human performance. In her research and work, particularly with elite athletes and professional sports teams, she explores the link between getting rest and doing our best. “If you are getting quality sleep, you can think more clearly, react under pressure, make good judgment calls, have more patience, be more empathetic,” she says. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart , Mah and host Matt Abrahams explore strategies for better sleep, from bedtime routines to paying off “sleep debt” to the “nappuccino” — a caffeine-fueled power nap. Whether you struggle to sleep or can nod off at any time or place, Mah’s insights reveal why doing our best requires getting our rest. To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium . Episode Reference Links: Dr. Cheri Mah Ep.183 Rethinks: How Anxiety Can Fuel Better Communication   Connect: Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn , Instagram , YouTube Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn ******** Thank you to our sponsors.   These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost. Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction (01:15) - Sleep & Performance (02:29) - Better Sleep Habits (04:34) - Quieting a Racing Mind (06:07) - Dr. Mah’s Night Routine (07:37) - Sleep Extension (09:10) - Preparing for Big Events (10:02) - The Nappuccino (11:39) - Managing Jet Lag (14:14) - Chronotypes Explained (16:18) - Starting the Day with Sleep (17:58) - The Final Three Question (22:15) - Conclusion