Abstract of the book. The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload

Set aside time to refuel so you can increase your productivity later.

Everyone knows that you tend to be far more productive after a good night’s sleep. And yet, we’re often tempted to skip a few hours of kip in order to work just a little bit more.

This, however, is a mistake. Our brain works incredibly hard while we sleep, processing new information from the day and integrating it into our existing knowledge. Memories, problems and ideas often appear in our dreams and we may find ourselves better positioned to solve a problem after “sleeping on it.”

This phenomenon is backed up by studies. Researchers found that students attempting to solve a problem performed better following a night of sleep than a night spent awake. Ultimately, you’re twice as likely to solve a problem after you’ve slept on it. This shows that sleep is essential, and attempting to work when you’re tired is counterproductive.

Sleep isn’t the only way that we can refuel our minds. Many companies have discovered the benefits of decreasing their employees’ working time and providing designated “rest hours.”

One such company is Microsoft, where employees at the campus are welcome to use the in-house spa. This reflects Microsoft’s understanding of the need to refuel – workers found they were much more productive after relaxing there.

The accounting firm Ernst & Young improved worker performance by allowing additional vacation time. By supplying their employees with ten extra hours of vacation, they increased productivity by eight percent.