Do you need to stay sharp during a rough week ahead? Try this military-approved sleep trick…
If you know you’ve got a few tough nights coming – maybe a night shift, a red-eye flight, or even surgery – experts say you can prep your body ahead of time by sleep banking.
It’s just what it sounds like: getting extra sleep in advance to cushion the blow of upcoming sleep loss. The strategy started in the military to help soldiers stay sharp during missions, and science backs it up.
In a study from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, scientists had people sleep 10 hours a night for a week before cutting them back to only 3 hours a night. And guess what? The “sleep bankers” stayed more alert, had faster reaction times, and even recovered better afterward.
Experts say you don’t have to go overboard – just an hour earlier to bed, or sleeping in a little longer for a few days, can help build up your reserves. You can even bank sleep with naps!
Think of it like a savings account of sleep that you’ll need to withdraw before a physical or mental challenge.
Does city living have your brain feeling fried?
When participants were around greenery and birds, their mood improved significantly — and those benefits lasted for hours.
You cry the second you walk through the door
You pick a fight with your partner over nothing
You hit the drive-through for a comfort meal
You snap at your kids or roommates over something small
Take small breaks during the day
Create a wind-down ritual
Move your body
LTP is the process that helps us learn better and remember more clearly.
But when we’re stressed for too long, LTP slows down — and memory suffers.
