Sleep: The free superpower you’re ignoring
A sleep expert has warned anyone who gets less than six hours of
sleep a night about the benefits of starting to plan their sleep better.
Let’s be real – sleep is amazing. It’s like a free, overnight spa treatment for your brain and body. And yet, so many of us treat it like an optional side quest instead of the main mission.
Sleep not only helps repair your body, boosts your immune system, and keeps your emotions in check, but it also strengthens your memory, regulates hormones, and stops you from turning into a grumpy, caffeine-fuelled gremlin.
But how much do we actually need? And what happens when we don't get enough?
How many hours of sleep are enough?
According to the Sleep Foundation, adults (that’s you, probably) should aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night. Some people thrive on eight or nine, while others insist they can function on just five (more on that later).
Here’s the kicker though: Matthew Walker shared that the number of people who can survive on six hours or less without any negative effects (when rounded to a whole number) is zero. Yep, a big fat 0%.
If you’re part of the “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” crew, science says you might just be speeding up that process.
What happens when you don’t sleep enough?
In 2018, Professor Matthew Walker (a neuroscientist who basically studies why we’re all walking around like exhausted zombies) explained, on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast, that cutting down sleep is messing with millions of years of evolution.
“It took Mother Nature 3.6 million years to put this thing called an eight-hour sleep necessity in place,” he said, “and in just 100 years, we’ve chopped off almost 20% of it.”
Translation? We’ve been ignoring nature’s blueprint and are now running on fumes.
And if you’re a guy who thinks he’s “built different” and doesn’t need much sleep? Well, Walker has bad news.
“Men who sleep five to six hours a night will have the testosterone levels of someone 10 years older.”
Yep, bad sleep equals ageing yourself a decade in terms of virility, muscle strength, and… other important things.
Not to mention, sleep deprivation has been linked to depression, lack of motivation, increased pain sensitivity, a higher risk of diabetes, obesity, and even heart attacks.
So basically, missing out on sleep isn’t just making you tired; it’s actively working against you.
How to get better sleep (without becoming a monk)
If you want to level up your sleep game, here are some quick fixes:
Ditch the caffeine and alcohol before bed. That “one last coffee” at 5 pm? Bad idea.
Put the phone down. Blue light from screens tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime, making it harder for you to fall asleep.
Get outside more. Sunlight helps regulate your sleep cycle, so stop hiding in your cave and stock up on your vitamin D.
In short: treat sleep like the non-negotiable life hack that it is. Your body (and your future, well-rested self) will thank you for it.
If you’re interested in finding out more, watch the 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast episode here.
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