37% of Americans Use Vacation Just to Sleep While Starbucks Cuts 900 Jobs: Elon Gives Workers 48 Hours to Justify Their Existence

insights

37% of Americans this year used vacation days just to sleep. Not travel, not family time, not memories. Just basic biological recovery from exhaustion.

Same week, Starbucks announced 900 job cuts and 150 store closures. Elon Musk gave X AI workers 48 hours to justify their existence. The federal government threatened 300,000 permanent layoffs if Congress doesn't reach a funding deal by Monday.

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

Workers are so exhausted they burn vacation days just to recover, not experience life. Millennials hit hardest (43% use PTO for sleep recovery). Meanwhile, companies squeeze workers with fear-based management and mass layoffs. High earners are 26% more likely to use vacation for sleep than those making under $100K. The system is breaking from top to bottom, and transformation while employed is the only real option.

THE VACATION EXHAUSTION CRISIS

Amerisleep surveyed 1,200 Americans about vacation usage. 37% said they take PTO just to catch up on sleep.

The millennial crisis: 43% use vacation to recover from exhaustion. Almost half an entire generation too tired to even vacation properly.

High earner paradox: People making over $100K are 26% more likely to use vacation for sleep than lower earners. Making more money doesn't fix burnout.

Sleep coach Rosie Usman: "Burnout is so widespread that people are burning vacation days on basic recovery instead of new experiences. Rest has become a necessity, not a luxury."

This connects directly to what Aron Kolosik told us yesterday: executives sleeping under 6 hours have a 56% burnout rate. Now we see 37% of all workers using vacation just for sleep. The system is breaking top to bottom.

STARBUCKS: EXHAUSTED WORKERS, EXHAUSTED CUSTOMERS

Starbucks announced $1 billion restructuring: 900 non-retail corporate positions eliminated, 150 stores closing.

CEO Brian Niccol's verdict: Stores couldn't create the environment customers expect. Six consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales.

The death spiral: Workers exhausted, customers exhausted. Nobody has energy to go to Starbucks. Sales decline. Company fires workers. Remaining workers get more exhausted handling more work. Cycle continues.

This is the second round of layoffs under Niccol (1,100 positions eliminated earlier this year). Four-day office policy implemented while investing $500M in labor.

MANAGEMENT MADNESS: TWO TOXIC APPROACHES

Elon Musk's fear tactics: Sent X AI workers a message Wednesday: "You have 48 hours to justify your existence. Send one-page summary of what you did last month and what you'll do next month. Due by noon Thursday."

Recently fired 600 data annotators, put a 2023 high school graduate in charge. Now demands remaining employees prove their value in 48 hours.

Jeremy Campbell, Black Owls Group: "While Musk's methods may drive short-term compliance, research shows leading with fear ultimately backfires, reducing morale, fostering resentment, and leading to high turnover."

Barry Diller's sink-or-swim approach: IAC and Expedia Group chairman says, "When you give people more responsibility than they qualify for, in that forge you can find out who swims and who doesn't."

Mentored CEOs of Uber and Disney. His philosophy: Hire young people, overwhelm them with responsibility, see who survives.

Both approaches burn people out. Either fear ultimatums or overwhelming responsibility without support. Result: 37% using vacation just to sleep.

THE FEDERAL LAYOFF THREAT

Wednesday night, White House Office of Management and Budget sent memo: Federal agencies must prepare reduction-in-force notices if Congress doesn't reach funding agreement by September 30 (Monday).

The numbers:

300,000 federal civilian workers expected gone by end of 2025
154,000 already accepted buyouts (departure date: Monday)
Interior Department lost 7,500 employees (11% of workforce), preparing for mid-October layoffs that could double losses
USGS biological research: Up to 80% staff cuts planned
National Park Service: 1,500 planned cuts

The chaos: Same agencies firing people are asking previously fired employees to return (DOJ, GSA asked hundreds of fired workers back October 16th).

This isn't workforce management. It's chaos. And Congress isn't even in the office to negotiate.

THE "IT'S JUST A BLIP" DELUSION

Cisco Chief People Officer Francine Katsoudas told Business Insider that entry-level hiring slowdowns are "just a blip" that won't last long.

Her reasoning: Cisco's contact center handles 1.5 million cases with AI now, but humans do "level two work" (more complex cases). Different job, not no job.

The reality Stanford shows:

13% decline for workers age 22-25 in US workforce (because of AI)
Highest unemployment for computer science and software engineering
Tech internships down 30% since 2023

This isn't a blip. This is structural change. Jobs require different skills than workers have, and workers are too exhausted to properly upskill.

LESSONS FROM SOMEONE WHO TRANSFORMED

Shaka Senghor spent 19 years in prison (7 in solitary). Now he's a New York Times bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and startup mentor for Andreessen Horowitz.

His 5 lessons for exhausted workers:

1. Just start: Success isn't about waiting until you're ready. If you're exhausted, start anyway.

2. Master your mindset: Until you accept responsibility for your life, someone else controls your future. Change self-talk from "I'm so tired I can't" to "I'm tired and I'm taking one step forward."

3. Your past doesn't define you: "I'm not here in spite of my past. I'm here because I transformed through it." Your exhaustion is data showing you need change.

4. Overcome fear: Build skills while employed. Network while you have job security. Plan your exit while you have a paycheck.

5. Step into your power: Self-belief + discipline + courage to act = unstoppable. Even when you're tired.

YOUR WEEKEND ACTION PLAN

If you're exhausted (the 37%):

Actually get real rest this weekend (extra hour or two of sleep)
Monday: Take Aron's Core Four assessment at unstuckmasterplan.com
This week: Set one boundary (no emails after 7pm or no weekend work)
Rest of month: Do sleep audit, track hours, aim for 7+ hours

If you're entry-level:

This weekend: Enroll in one AI course (Google AI Essentials is free)
Monday: Learn AI tools in your specific field
Next week: Focus on level-two skills (problem-solving with AI, understanding what it can and can't do)
October: Network with 2-3 people years ahead who've navigated transitions

If you're mid-career:

Weekend: Take honest assessment (stop saying weight gain is "all muscle")
Assess if you're in Elon-type or Diller-type environment
Build exit strategy if needed, develop skills that make you less replaceable
October: Network consistently, build backup plans

If you're federal worker:

Weekend: Prepare for Monday deadline, update resume, ensure cash reserves
Target federal contractor companies (Deloitte, Accenture, Booz Allen)
Security clearance adds $20K-$30K to salary

If you're management:

Monday: Ask your team honestly, "Are we inspiring or demanding productivity?"
Check employee vacation patterns, encourage PTO usage
Assess if culture is broken

EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ACCESS

Saturday 7AM CT Patreon Session: How platforms like YouTube allow you to grow AND create additional income streams.

Join Heights Patreon for burnout recovery strategies

Need 1-on-1 coaching? Book at nxtgenheights.com

YOUR THREE OPTIONS

Option 1: Keep burning out, hoping it gets better Option 2: Quit and hope you land somewhere better
Option 3: Transform yourself while employed

Option 3 is the only one that actually works. Build skills, build network, build exit strategy, build multiple income streams while you still have a paycheck.

37% of workers use vacation just to sleep. Starbucks cuts 900 jobs because exhausted customers don't come in. Elon demands 48-hour justifications. Government threatens 300,000 layoffs. Toxic management everywhere.

But transformation is possible. If Shaka can transform from 19 years in prison to advising tech startups, if Aron can transform from Fortune 50 burnout to helping executives, you can transform from wherever you are.

Start this weekend. Especially if you're tired. The system isn't slowing down for anyone.

Want burnout recovery frameworks? Join the Heights community for exclusive strategies.

Forward this to someone in the exhausted 37% who needs to see there's a path to transformation.

Keep climbing. The view gets better at the top.