Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he sits down with experts in the field to discuss real-world challenges. How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I write emails to get my point across? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I manage my reputation? Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life.Think Fast, Talk Smart provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help you communicate more effectively.

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

May 11, 2026 0:27:52 4.79 MB ( 21.97 MB less) Downloads: 0

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.

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Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (02:57) - Sleep & Performance
  • (04:11) - Better Sleep Habits
  • (06:16) - Quieting a Racing Mind
  • (07:49) - Dr. Mah’s Night Routine
  • (09:19) - Sleep Extension
  • (10:52) - Preparing for Big Events
  • (11:44) - The Nappuccino
  • (13:21) - Managing Jet Lag
  • (15:56) - Chronotypes Explained
  • (18:00) - Starting the Day with Sleep
  • (19:40) - The Final Three Question
  • (23:57) - Conclusion

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