• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less

1

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
CommentaryLeadership

Helping people get some sleep in anxious times will help underserved communities too

By
Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington
and
Don Katz
Don Katz
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Arianna Huffington
Arianna Huffington
and
Don Katz
Don Katz
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 21, 2020, 9:15 AM ET
SLEEP-MEDITATION-APP-CORONAVIRUS
A young woman is listening to music while sitting on a sofa. She is enjoying herself at home during social distancing time and quarantine because of covid-19 pandemic.Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

In ordinary times, sleep is essential to every aspect of a person’s well-being. In extraordinary times of uncertainty, anxiety, and stress, getting the sleep we need is more important than ever. Sleep is the foundation of both a strong immune system and psychological resilience—the very things we need to navigate this pandemic. 

And yet with the COVID-19 crisis, a good night’s sleep has never been harder to come by. Increased stress, the “loss of daytime structure,” and too much screen time are cutting into sleep, writes Lisa Medalie, a behavioral sleep medicine specialist at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Google searches for insomnia hit a record high in early April. And many people are seeing an uptick in nightmares, brought on by stress and anxiety.

At the same time, growing data is showing that Americans in underserved communities are disproportionately affected by the virus. Newark, N.J.—where Audible moved its global headquarters in 2007—leads the state in the COVID-19 spread, and like other economically disadvantaged cities, historical precedent indicates that job losses and business destruction are destined to be far higher in Newark than in other areas. 

Many of our neighbors in Newark have underlying health conditions like hypertension, asthma, and diabetes that make them particularly vulnerable to developing serious coronavirus-related symptoms. Furthermore, many tend to work essential jobs that require in-person attendance, and thus have an increased chance of exposure.

Sleep’s deep connection to health and wellness and the inequitable impact of COVID-19 in the urban core can indeed be societally and programmatically connected. Numerous studies have suggested that socioeconomically disadvantaged communities are more likely to experience sleep patterns associated with adverse health outcomes. The so-called sleep gap and disproportionate medical and economic impacts of the coronavirus both illustrate many of the larger inequality indices we see and can measure across the country.

This is why Audible and Thrive Global have come together, along with the strong voices of Sean “Diddy” Combs, Nick Jonas, and others, to introduce a collection of free audio experiences—from guided meditations and bedtime stories to sound baths and microsteps for better sleep—designed to help people rest during this difficult time.

Beyond helping people navigate an historically anxious time, we’ll also be sustaining and creating restaurant jobs in Newark and providing meals that will be delivered to Newark’s most vulnerable citizens—as well as to the city’s frontline health care workers. Audible and Newark allies—including famed chefs Marcus Samuelsson and José Andrés—recently launched Newark Working Kitchens (NWK) to fund local restaurants to help feed as many frontline workers and local residents impacted by the pandemic as possible. Audible has already committed to purchasing 100,000 meals from a network of relit restaurants, and we, along with our partners, plan to fund more meals and jobs following the launch of the sleep solution.

Thrive Global, like Audible, has pivoted its resources and energy into providing its partners, users, and communities with the resources and tools needed to take care of themselves and others. Thrive launched #FirstRespondersFirst with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the CAA Foundation. Through this initiative, Thrive is providing those on the front lines not just with personal protective equipment, but also with childcare, food, mental health support, and other resources for demographically and socially diverse workforces. 

Joining forces to create a powerful sleep solution at a time when sleep is most crucial, while also partnering with nonprofits we helped create to support the most vulnerable communities in Newark, came about because we stepped back to brainstorm new visions of the possible. It’s great to see these initiatives already having an immediate social impact while also laying a foundation for continued impact long after the pandemic.

Entrepreneurs and other corporate leaders everywhere can rethink and redeploy their capacity to launch innovative products, understand customers at a deep and often metrics-driven behavioral level, and also leverage their natural instinct—if they are successful—to discern how investment can generate the best outputs to make a difference.

We decided to write this together to encourage other business leaders—particularly those who see themselves as entrepreneurs capable of working backward from big visions of the possible versus serving as professional managers—to step back and imagine new ways to connect the dots and make a bigger impact.

The coronavirus pandemic has shocked our individual and collective systems. By imagining creative responses to these unprecedented circumstances, recognizing our deep interconnectedness, and committing to our health and the health of our communities, we can emerge from this challenging historical moment together and stronger than before.

Arianna Huffington is founder and CEO of Thrive Global.

Don Katz is founder and executive chairman of Audible.

More opinion in Fortune:

—To fight tomorrow’s pandemic, we need to think like the military today
—Prescription drug costs are spiraling, but price controls are the wrong solution
—The Fed may have fundamentally altered the nature of risk in the stock market
—Why the U.S. needs a new corporate bailout structure—one that doesn’t rely on loans
—Listen to Leadership Next, a Fortune podcast examining the evolving role of CEO
—WATCH: CEO of Canada’s biggest bank on the keys to leading through the coronavirus

Listen to our audio briefing, Fortune 500 Daily

About the Authors
By Arianna Huffington
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Don Katz
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Commentary

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Commentary

nido
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
As an immigrant turned entrepreneur and college president, here is why I celebrate our nation as it turns 250
By Nido R. QubeinJune 25, 2026
7 hours ago
Asia’s defense boom is rewiring the global arms supply chain
Commentaryarms, weapons, and defense
Asia’s defense boom is rewiring the global arms supply chain
By Chris OberoiJune 24, 2026
22 hours ago
steve
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
Steve Case: America was built by entrepreneurs. Here’s how we keep that edge for the next 250 years
By Steve CaseJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
t
CommentaryWhite House
Trump mistakes the bully pulpit for bullying leadership — history’s villains were never heroes
By Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven TianJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
mg
CommentaryHealth
The ‘tech neck’ time bomb: why 43 million young Americans could cripple U.S. health care within a generation
By Michael GerlingJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
sb
Commentaryclimate change
The climate policy triangle: why leaders can no longer choose between growth, security and sustainability
By Sebastian BuckupJune 23, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
Success
Now worth $200 million, Sarah Jessica Parker credits being ‘one of eight kids that struggled financially’ for her hunger, ambition, and work ethic
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
12 hours ago
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
Retail
Amazon's record Prime Day masks a darker truth: Americans are spending more and getting less
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
Asia
Ray Dalio just finished a 10-day trip to China. He says global leaders know America ‘doesn’t have what it takes to fight to maintain its empire’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 24, 2026
1 day ago
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
2 days ago
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
Success
Ikea’s billionaire founder was so frugal that he bought clothes from flea markets and took free salt and pepper from restaurants
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 25, 2026
12 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.