Writers 
THE HEALTH HABIT WE KEEP SACRIFICING FOR PRODUCTIVITY: SLEEP
There is something almost funny about the way we treat sleep.
When we are children, someone has to practically beg us to go to bed.
As adults, we sometimes have to beg ourselves.
“I'll sleep after I finish this.”
“Let me just reply this message.”
“I still have something to read.”
“I'll watch just one more episode.”
“I'll sleep properly during the weekend.”
And before we know it, the night is gone.
Then morning comes, and we wake up tired, reach for our phones, take our bath, grab something to eat or sometimes skip breakfast completely and begin another day as if nothing happened.
We have somehow turned being tired into a normal part of adulthood.
Being busy has become a badge of honour.
Sometimes when someone says, “I only slept for three hours,” the response isn't concern. It is almost admiration.
“Wow, you are really hardworking.”
But what if constantly depriving yourself of sleep isn't proof that you are hardworking?
What if it is simply proof that your body is asking for something you keep refusing to give it?
Sleep is not wasted time.
Our bodies need it.
The World Health Organization includes getting enough sleep among everyday healthy habits, alongside eating well, being physically active and avoiding harmful substances.
World Health Organization
And this isn't difficult to understand when you pay attention to your own body.
Think about the difference between yourself after a good night's sleep and yourself after staying awake almost all night.
Your mood may be different.
Your concentration may be different.
Your patience may be different.
Even simple tasks can suddenly feel unnecessarily difficult.
You read the same sentence several times.
You forget what you were about to do.
Someone asks you a simple question and somehow your brain needs five business days to process it.
Sometimes we blame ourselves for being lazy or unproductive when the real problem may simply be that we are exhausted.
That doesn't mean every tired feeling is caused by lack of sleep. Persistent tiredness can have many causes and may deserve medical attention.
But sleep is one basic part of health that we often have more control over than we realise.
Current CDC data from the United States found that about 3 in 10 adults reported getting less than seven hours of sleep on average in 2024. The CDC also notes that poor sleep health has been linked with health problems including obesity and depression.
CDC
Of course, our circumstances are different.
A student may have an examination.
A parent may have a baby who wakes during the night.
A worker may have demanding shifts.
Someone may be dealing with stress, anxiety or a health condition that makes sleeping difficult.
So this isn't about telling people, “Just sleep more,” as though everyone has the same life.
It is about recognising that sleep deserves to be taken seriously.
Sometimes we need to look at our habits.
Are we carrying our phones to bed every night?
Are we drinking caffeine late in the day?
Are we constantly working until the moment we fall asleep?
Are we keeping an irregular sleep schedule?
Are we treating our bedroom like an office, cinema, restaurant and social media centre all at once?
Small changes may matter.
Maybe tonight, instead of scrolling endlessly, put the phone away a little earlier.
Maybe finish the work that truly needs to be finished and leave the rest for tomorrow.
Maybe stop feeling guilty for resting.
And if you regularly struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep or feel rested despite getting enough opportunity to sleep, don't simply accept it as “normal.” It may be worth speaking with a qualified health professional.
There is also something else I think we need to change.
We need to stop glorifying exhaustion.
Being tired all the time isn't a personality trait.
Sleeping four hours every night isn't automatically evidence of ambition.
And resting doesn't mean you are lazy.
We cannot pour from an empty cup forever.
Our bodies have limits.
The goal shouldn't be to see how little sleep we can survive on.
The goal should be to build a life in which productivity and health can exist together.
Work hard.
Study hard.
Dream big.
Build your career.
Take care of your responsibilities.
But remember that your body is coming with you on that journey.
Don't sacrifice your health today just to have the energy to enjoy success tomorrow.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is something that doesn't look productive at all.
Sometimes it is simply putting the phone down, closing your eyes and allowing your body to rest.
A thought to leave with you
Your body is not a machine you can keep running without maintenance. Take care of it while it is carrying you toward the life you are trying to build.