Health Beyond Years

For most of my adult life, I underestimated the power of sleep. I thought I could get by with five or six hours a night and still function at my best. I believed that pushing through exhaustion was a sign of strength. I wore my late nights like a badge of honor. It was only when my health started to deteriorate that I began to understand that sleep was not a luxury. It was a lifeline. I remember the turning point clearly. I was in the middle of a particularly stressful season. My immune system seemed to be in constant rebellion. I was catching every cold that came my way. My concentration was slipping. My moods were unpredictable. And no matter how much coffee I drank, I still felt like I was wading through mental fog. I thought the problem was my diet or stress alone. Then I stumbled across an article that said sleep deprivation could weaken the immune system, disrupt hormones, and even accelerate aging. I had been working hard on my immune system already, but it became clear that wi...