Collateral in the race to survive: The high cost of sacrificing sleep

In today's fast-paced world, especially as the end of the year approaches, it seems as if people believe they can work 24 hours a day if only the body allowed it. Many Filipinos willingly trade hours of sleep to finish deadlines, pursue degrees, juggle multiple jobs, or expand a small business. The mindset is familiar: when time runs short, sleep becomes negotiable.

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This thinking is not only misguided—it is dangerous.

Sleep is not a luxury. It is a biological requirement, as vital as food and exercise. Yet it is the first thing many of us give up when life demands more of us. In the Philippines, where commutes stretch for hours, where workers often hold side gigs, and where students battle heavy academic loads on top of household responsibilities, sleep is routinely stolen both by necessity and habit.

But science is clear: the body pays the price every time we cut sleep short.

According to the National Sleep Foundation based in Virginia, USA, most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep, while teenagers and young adults require even more. As explained in medical reports, deep sleep early in the night allows the body to repair muscles, tissues, and the immune system, while later REM sleep strengthens learning, memory, and emotional regulation. Skipping sleep means skipping these vital processes.