The Sleep Edit
@thesleepedit.bsky.social
Having the conversation about sleep. Lucky enough to be featured in the BBC, Vogue, and more.
Sleep isn’t anti-fun.
It just prefers the afterglow, not the party.
It just prefers the afterglow, not the party.
December 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Sleep isn’t anti-fun.
It just prefers the afterglow, not the party.
It just prefers the afterglow, not the party.
Calm joy settles the nervous system.
High-energy fun keeps it switched on.
High-energy fun keeps it switched on.
December 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Calm joy settles the nervous system.
High-energy fun keeps it switched on.
High-energy fun keeps it switched on.
Your brain doesn’t judge emotions as good or bad. It reads intensity.
December 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Your brain doesn’t judge emotions as good or bad. It reads intensity.
But excitement and laughter close to bedtime still activate arousal systems. Dopamine, adrenaline, light exposure, social stimulation all signal wakefulness.
December 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
But excitement and laughter close to bedtime still activate arousal systems. Dopamine, adrenaline, light exposure, social stimulation all signal wakefulness.
Reindeer evolved for constant cold and darkness.
Humans evolved for consolidated, full sleep cycles.
Santa’s crew can cheat the system. We can’t.
Humans evolved for consolidated, full sleep cycles.
Santa’s crew can cheat the system. We can’t.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reindeer evolved for constant cold and darkness.
Humans evolved for consolidated, full sleep cycles.
Santa’s crew can cheat the system. We can’t.
Humans evolved for consolidated, full sleep cycles.
Santa’s crew can cheat the system. We can’t.
When we fragment sleep to stay productive, reaction time, mood, memory, and judgement all quietly degrade. Even when we feel “fine.”
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
When we fragment sleep to stay productive, reaction time, mood, memory, and judgement all quietly degrade. Even when we feel “fine.”
Now the important bit for humans:
We do not have this switch.
We do not have this switch.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Now the important bit for humans:
We do not have this switch.
We do not have this switch.
On EEG, their brain activity briefly slows, then snaps back to alertness.
Think of it as biological “power-saving mode,” not full shutdown.
Think of it as biological “power-saving mode,” not full shutdown.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
On EEG, their brain activity briefly slows, then snaps back to alertness.
Think of it as biological “power-saving mode,” not full shutdown.
Think of it as biological “power-saving mode,” not full shutdown.
This isn’t hibernation.
It isn’t normal sleep either.
It’s a survival workaround that keeps them responsive to predators, weather, and possibly sleigh bells.
It isn’t normal sleep either.
It’s a survival workaround that keeps them responsive to predators, weather, and possibly sleigh bells.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
This isn’t hibernation.
It isn’t normal sleep either.
It’s a survival workaround that keeps them responsive to predators, weather, and possibly sleigh bells.
It isn’t normal sleep either.
It’s a survival workaround that keeps them responsive to predators, weather, and possibly sleigh bells.
Instead, their brains drop into short, low-power rest states while they keep chewing.
Resting… but still operational.
Resting… but still operational.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Instead, their brains drop into short, low-power rest states while they keep chewing.
Resting… but still operational.
Resting… but still operational.
In the Arctic winter, reindeer don’t sleep in neat, human-style blocks.
Too dark. Too cold. Too much grazing to risk switching fully “off.”
Too dark. Too cold. Too much grazing to risk switching fully “off.”
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
In the Arctic winter, reindeer don’t sleep in neat, human-style blocks.
Too dark. Too cold. Too much grazing to risk switching fully “off.”
Too dark. Too cold. Too much grazing to risk switching fully “off.”
The fix is gentle stability.
Keep wake times closer to your weekday pattern, get morning light on both days, and build a calm Sunday routine that signals safety rather than stress.
Keep wake times closer to your weekday pattern, get morning light on both days, and build a calm Sunday routine that signals safety rather than stress.
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The fix is gentle stability.
Keep wake times closer to your weekday pattern, get morning light on both days, and build a calm Sunday routine that signals safety rather than stress.
Keep wake times closer to your weekday pattern, get morning light on both days, and build a calm Sunday routine that signals safety rather than stress.
Add Monday anxiety and the brain jumps into rehearsal mode.
Planning, worrying, and replaying tasks keep the mind awake even when the body wants rest.
Planning, worrying, and replaying tasks keep the mind awake even when the body wants rest.
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Add Monday anxiety and the brain jumps into rehearsal mode.
Planning, worrying, and replaying tasks keep the mind awake even when the body wants rest.
Planning, worrying, and replaying tasks keep the mind awake even when the body wants rest.
Then Sunday arrives and your biology is still on weekend time.
You want to sleep. Your circadian system does not.
You want to sleep. Your circadian system does not.
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Then Sunday arrives and your biology is still on weekend time.
You want to sleep. Your circadian system does not.
You want to sleep. Your circadian system does not.
Weekend habits push your body clock later.
Sleeping in, staying up, and eating at irregular times shift the rhythm forward.
Sleeping in, staying up, and eating at irregular times shift the rhythm forward.
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Weekend habits push your body clock later.
Sleeping in, staying up, and eating at irregular times shift the rhythm forward.
Sleeping in, staying up, and eating at irregular times shift the rhythm forward.
Social jet lag is invisible travel.
Your body moves time zones without leaving your bedroom.
Your body moves time zones without leaving your bedroom.
November 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Social jet lag is invisible travel.
Your body moves time zones without leaving your bedroom.
Your body moves time zones without leaving your bedroom.
The fix is not perfection. It is stability.
Keep your wake time within an hour of your usual schedule and get early light to anchor your clock.
Keep your wake time within an hour of your usual schedule and get early light to anchor your clock.
November 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The fix is not perfection. It is stability.
Keep your wake time within an hour of your usual schedule and get early light to anchor your clock.
Keep your wake time within an hour of your usual schedule and get early light to anchor your clock.
Mood, focus, appetite, and energy all depend on circadian timing. When that timing moves around, the whole system feels scrambled.
November 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Mood, focus, appetite, and energy all depend on circadian timing. When that timing moves around, the whole system feels scrambled.
Stay up late and sleep in for two days and your internal clock resets.
Then Monday arrives and everything feels harder because your biology is still on weekend time.
Then Monday arrives and everything feels harder because your biology is still on weekend time.
November 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Stay up late and sleep in for two days and your internal clock resets.
Then Monday arrives and everything feels harder because your biology is still on weekend time.
Then Monday arrives and everything feels harder because your biology is still on weekend time.
It’s not magic. It’s timing. Drink, nap, wake, win.
November 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
It’s not magic. It’s timing. Drink, nap, wake, win.
It’s called a “nappuccino.” Tested by NASA pilots and backed by research showing sharper focus and faster reaction times.
November 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
It’s called a “nappuccino.” Tested by NASA pilots and backed by research showing sharper focus and faster reaction times.