Facing The experiments and tests around the world that seek to establish a four -day workdaythe richest man on the planet proposes a hardly justifiable leap against. Elon Musk recently revealed which is the “formula of success” of the efficiency office it manages in the United States government. The keys: work So many hours that sleep deprivation threatens the health of the workers themselves.
The culture of the extreme. He did it a few weeks ago through Your X account. Elon Musk revealed then that he and his department of government efficiety (Doge) work work nothing less than 120 hours per weeka figure that triples the standard day 40 hours.
Musk argued that this titanic effort is what allows them to overcome their “bureaucratic opponents,” who operate with conventional schedules. What does science say to all this?
Divide the day. Making the accounts more or less standard, and since a week has 168 hours, working 120 hours is to leave alone 48 hours for any other activityincluding in the eating equation, bathing, moving to work/return home and, of course, sleeping.
In the best case, if an employee allocated those 48 hours only to sleep, he would get a maximum of 6.8 hours per night, well below The 8 recommended hours by health experts. However, it is still a utopia considering the time of displacement and any other of the basic needs, so it is likely that real rest is much lower.
Science. In Fortune They collected several studies that warn about the serious consequences of working in excess. Mayo Clinic points out that sleep less than 7 hours At night it can contribute to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and depression. WHO data already indicated in 2016 that 745,000 people died by cardiovascular diseases associated with working days of 55 hours or more.
Microsueños. Since the 1950s, scientists Like William Dement They have documented The effects of sleep In the brain, identifying the IMPORTANCE OF REM DREAM and discovering the phenomenon of The so -called “microsueños”episodes of momentary unconsciousness that can cause fatal errors at work.
More recently, studies have shown that lack of sleep reduces activity in The prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and in The hippocampus (key in memory).
The impact is not just neurological. The study of the World Health Organization indicated that working more than 55 hours per week increases by 35% the risk of stroke and in 17% the risk of heart disease.
In terms of productivity, an investigation from Stanford University concluded that it falls dramatically After 50 hours a weekand that working 70 hours per week generates almost The same production as 56 hourswhich suggests decreasing yields beyond a certain point.
Musk’s obsession. The truth is that it was already known that Musk was a recognized WORLKAHOLIC. In A 2022 interview With investor Ron Baron, he confessed to having lived three years within his factories in Tesla and Spacex, sleeping in sofastents on the roofs and even under his desk, surrounded by metallic dust and the most uncomfortable conditions.
No doubt, his labor philosophy of “more hours is equal to more efficiency” has been widely criticizedsince scientific evidence suggests that imposing extreme days does not guarantee better results and, instead, It affects health and the well -being of workers.
Govern without sleep. They counted in a VOX medium report that the extreme work rhythm in Doge has already generated serious mistakes In public administration. From multimillionaire mathematical failures to the accidental dissemination of classified information, fatigue seems to be affecting the capacity of the Musk team to make key decisions.
The recent dismissal and Hurrying reaction of essential personnel in areas such as nuclear safety and Avian flu response It is a sign that the policy of exhaustion could be having real and dangerous consequences. Plus: Trump administration is implementing Mass dismissals in the IRS In full tax season, which could generate an administrative collapse.
In short, these types of measures, promoted by an apparently exhausted team, arouse concerns about the efficacy and stability of the government Under this new hyperproductivity model.
The failures of “hacking” the dream. Paradoxically, Musk and other technological leaders have recognized that The dream cannot be replaced. Companies like Eight Sleepthat sold rest capsules From no less than 4,600 dollars to Musk and his team, they reinforce the idea that, although the culture of extreme work remains promoted, they are also looking for more efficient ways to achieve that eight -hour standard.
Even figures such as Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos have defended the Importance of rest In productivity. On the other sidewalk, while Musk insists on that exhausting routine, he himself has admitted that his ancient habits caused “brain pain”, in fact, his Erratic behavior in networks Social raises doubts about whether you are really improving your rest.
Sleep more, no less. Despite the alleged glamor that some try to grant sleep deprivation, scientific evidence is overwhelming: The rest is indispensable For the optimal functioning of brain and body. Instead of glorifying days of 120 hours per week, the real challenge should be to find ways to maximize productivity without compromising health.
One thing seems clearly clear: at the end of the day, not even the brightest and most innovative minds can escape human biology.
Musk either.
Image | Gage Skidmore
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