When I was a teacher, working 10 to 16 hours a day, it left little time for myself and the things I wanted to do. I couldn't take the time for work; I needed it, but sleep was just too easy to do. I, like many people, am quick to sacrifice an hour or two for a movie, to play video games, or go on social media, and the list goes on. We do it all the time—an hour here, two there. Then, before we know it, 4 hours of sleep have been sacrificed.
What do we have to show for those 4 hours of sleep we gave up on? Did we make more money, or gain a great experience? Most new video games take 4 hours to get you to the end of the tutorial part of a game. Social media, doom scrolling will net you nothing, as most of us don't even remember what we just looked at. In 4 hours of scrolling, you will probably see hundreds of vines. How much do you remember of what you looked at? Is what you remember worth sacrificing 4 hours of sleep for?
So we sacrifice our sleep, which makes sense. During the day, we are busy working, doing groceries, and taking care of other people's needs. For many of us, by the time all the demands on us are over, it's pretty late at night. We haven't done any of the things we enjoy doing, and we haven't been able to do anything for ourselves. The sacrifice is worth it, after all. Why shouldn't I watch funny YouTube videos? I have been working hard all day; I deserve to reward myself, even if it means sacrificing an hour or two of sleep.
The truth is that the only reward that we deserve for a long, busy day is a good night's sleep. And yet it does not feel enough. When it comes to our priorities, sleep often drops to the bottom of the list when it should be at the top. There are very few things that sleep should be sacrificed for. The top three are safety, as in the building you are in is on fire, or you are not in a safe situation where sleep is dangerous. The second is newborn babies; you need to get up and check on them throughout the night, as there are various tasks to attend to, including changing, feeding, and other care needs. As I am sure any new parent will tell you, a newborn is the only one getting any sleep. The third thing is emergencies, similar to safety reasons, but it can be a late-night phone call from a family member needing help.
On average, many of us sacrifice sleep for all kinds of reasons that feel justified in the moment. From reclaiming free time to work demands, catching up on personal tasks, and engaging in self-care activities, to falling behind in work or personal tasks, stress can arise due to various factors, including lifestyle choices. It's essential to recognize that sacrificing sleep can have significant consequences for both your mental and physical health. The interesting thing is that we often overlook the benefits of a good night's sleep, but we can readily notice the effects of a poor one.
By Andre Stam, RP, CCC, OCT, is a psychotherapist who specializes in sleep, teacher support, burnout, anxiety, and depression. He has training in CBT. CBT-I, DBT, SE, and Narrative therapy.
