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.
