With busy schedules often pushing sleep to the bottom of the priority list, health experts caution that rest is an essential part of staying healthy and performing well, particularly for those working under constant pressure.
This was the focus of Tempur Philippines’ “The Private Hour,” an intimate gathering where business leaders discussed the importance of sleep and recovery in sustaining performance.
Adding scientific perspective to the discussion, Angelika Balite, MD, FPSO-HNS, provided guests with an expert look into the importance of quality sleep and recovery.
For healthy adults, Balite explained, adequate sleep generally means seven to nine hours each night. But beyond the number of hours, sleep should be continuous and restorative, allowing a person to wake up feeling energized rather than tired.
“Sleep is not downtime. It is when the brain and body do their most important repair work. For people making high-stakes decisions every day, consistent, uninterrupted sleep is one of the most practical investments they can make in their performance and long-term health,” said Balite.
She also pointed to factors that can influence sleep quality, including a person’s health condition, stress and mental state, medications and substances, as well as the sleeping environment. Light, noise, temperature and comfort can all affect how well a person sleeps. “What happens when you don’t sleep well? The next day, your attention may be poor, concentration, reaction time, memory, mood, and decision-making. Of course, there are also long-term effects in your cardiovascular, metabolic, mental, cognitive, and immune health,” Balite said.
The discussion moved from science to personal experience as businessman Edgar Allan Caper shared how improving his sleeping environment affected his own routine and productivity.
Caper, founder and CEO of Caper Group and an executive leader across Cibo, AF Hospitality, Nextrade and KFC Guam, said his decision to invest in better sleep began after he was rushed to a hospital following a health episode. A doctor advised him to invest in a good pillow and bed to help manage pain related to problems with his nerves.
He eventually tried Tempur and said the improvement was noticeable.
“When I got [Tempur], I had a very good sleep. Productivity was really through the roof,” Caper said.
The experience has led him to reconsider recovery as part of maintaining his ability to work effectively rather than something to address only when time permits.
“We invest so much in our business, in our teams, in our people, in our plans. But I’m learning to give the same consideration to my own rest and recovery. So I want the energy to be my responsibilities and the presence to enjoy the life I am working for,” Caper said.
The conversation then turned to the technology behind Tempur’s sleep solutions.
Mayen Yuson, business unit director of Focus Global Inc., the exclusive Philippine distributor of Tempur, explained that the material was developed from technology created in the 1960s to cushion astronauts during spaceflight before it was adapted for sleep products.
“It responds and adapts to your body’s temperature, shape, and weight, creating the unique combination of pressure relief, comfort, and of course, support,” Yuson said.
Guests were also invited to experience Tempur’s most advanced cooling and breathable luxury mattress yet, the all-new Tempur Pro Air Luxe.
Engineered for enhanced breathability, the mattress delivers up to 10 times more airflow and helps keep sleepers up to 2 degrees Celsius cooler throughout the night by continuously moving heat away from the body.
“Our guests tonight carry a great deal of responsibility, and they know the value of investing in what helps them perform. Tempur has always been built on the belief that better sleep leads to better days. Evenings like this let people experience that for themselves,” Stephen Sy, founder and president of Focus Global, Inc., finally said.