Sleep Debt & Circadian Disruption
One night of poor sleep shifts choices toward chasing gains and away from avoiding losses, dulls learning from feedback, and leaves confidence intact; jet lag and late-night pushes do the same.
An everyday example
A deal team flies eight time zones and negotiates final terms the morning they land; they accept a structure they would have rejected rested.
What it can cost you
Riskier, less updated decisions made with full confidence — and counterparts who schedule against your circadian low.
Warning signs
- The upside looks bigger and the downside smaller than it did yesterday.
- I feel fine — and I slept five hours.
One thing to do
Treat sleep as a decision input: nothing irreversible on under six hours or within 24 hours of a long-haul flight; if you must, use a rested co-decider with veto.
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