With so much hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it is all too easy to let ambition override our well-being. We often chase success at the expense of our physical and mental health, wearing exhaustion like a badge of honour.
Arianna Huffington wants us to stop.
Having experienced her own wake-up call with burnout, Arianna has become a passionate advocate for a holistic redefinition of success. In her previous book, Thrive, she used groundbreaking research in psychology and physiology to make an impassioned case that true prosperity must include well-being, wisdom, and the transformative power of unplugging.
She followed this up with her best-selling book, The Sleep Revolution, highlighting the foundational importance of quality rest and pointing out how often our drive to succeed sabotages our basic health needs. Arianna is leading a revolution in our culture, our workplaces, and our lives.
Ready to join the revolution? Here are Arianna’s top three practical tips for instantly improving your life and starting your own path to sustainable happiness.
1. Prioritise the “Sleep Sponsor”
The feeling of waking up fully charged is priceless, yet so many of us miss out on it. Arianna’s first piece of advice is fundamental: Unless you are already getting all the sleep you genuinely need, start by committing to getting just 30 more minutes tonight.
Everyone can find 30 minutes. It might mean sacrificing one episode of a binge-worthy TV show but the payoff is worth it. If you find the temptation to late-night binge-watch too strong, Arianna suggests getting a “sleep sponsor.” Just like a sponsor in a recovery program, this is someone you can call when you’re tempted to stay up late, who will talk you down and encourage you to get the rest you need.
2. Establish Sacred Boundaries with Technology
“We’re addicted to technology and our devices,” Arianna admits. Even as someone who ran a 24/7 news site, she is acutely aware of the danger of becoming enslaved by tech.
To combat this, she insists on a “device-free bedroom.” We must all pick a time at night to gently escort phones and tablets out of our sleeping sanctuaries. This simple act is imperative and can transform your life. Instead of scrolling, read real books in bed, preferably ones that have nothing to do with work.
Furthermore, reclaim your morning. When you wake up, do not let checking texts and emails be the first thing you do. Don’t let the world dictate your agenda before your feet even hit the floor. Instead, take one minute to set your intention for the day, to be present, and to be grateful.
Arianna reminds us that creative people need space; Steve Jobs’ most iconic ideas came after Zen meditation. You must create those sacred times of stillness and be adamant about protecting them.
3. The Liberation of “Dropping It”
Sometimes, the best way to add value to your life is subtraction. Arianna advises picking things you would be better off without and simply dropping them.
This starts with emotional baggage. Drop grudges and resentment. Arianna fondly quotes Carrie Fisher: “Resentment is the poison you drink, thinking another person is going to die.”
But this also applies to your to-do list. It might be a project you thought you “should” do but your heart isn’t in. Arianna shared that one of her lingering projects was to become a good skier. The day she realised she just wasn’t going to do it and crossed it off her list forever was incredibly liberating.
Whatever it is, drop one thing at a time. It will create a vacuum for new, better things to enter your life.
Flip the Script
Ultimately, Arianna advises turning your perspective on its head. Even in the toughest times, focusing on gratitude will help you navigate the storm. She offers a powerful mantra for resilience:
“Live life as though everything is rigged in your favour. Even if something bad happens, ask yourself, ‘How is this rigged in my favour?'”
By shifting your mindset, you won’t just just be looking for that elusive silver lining, you will be actively creating it.
