I used to kind of brag about running on no sleep. Like it made me tougher. Then I actually learned what sleep does, and now I protect it harder than my workout schedule.
The CDC says teens need 8 to 10 hours a night, but roughly 7 out of 10 high schoolers don’t get that. And it’s not harmless. Not sleeping enough is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, worse mood, and more injuries. It’s a real public health issue, partly because early school start times and late-night screens fight against teen biology.
For anyone into sports, here’s the kicker: sleep is when your body actually repairs and grows. Lifting breaks your muscles down. Sleep builds them back up. So pulling an all-nighter before a big track meet is like skipping recovery day. You don’t get stronger, you get worse.
Once I started treating sleep like part of my training, everything got better. My jumps, my focus in class, my mood. Sleep isn’t lazy. It’s the cheat code nobody uses.
Bottom line: Sleep is when you actually get stronger, so stop treating it like wasted time.
Read more: Sleep and health — CDC
The Global Pulse 