Sweet Dreams: Why Good Sleep Could Be Your Superpower

Jeneen Masih
May 26
5 min read

I used to wear my late nights like a badge of honor.

Up at 5:30 AM. Back-to-back meetings. Emails late into the evening. A quick scroll through my phone before collapsing into bed, mind still spinning, sleep elusive. I’d wake up feeling like I’d run a marathon in my dreams—exhausted, foggy, and already behind.

Maybe you know the feeling?

It’s easy to shrug off poor sleep as just part of the hustle. “I’ll catch up on the weekend.” “I’m just a night owl.” “I’m used to it."

But here’s the truth: chronic sleep deprivation doesn’t make you strong or productive—it makes you fragile.

For me, the signs crept in quietly: a shorter temper, a few extra pounds, more colds than usual, and a feeling that joy was slipping through the cracks. I was living, but I wasn’t thriving.

Everything changed when I started treating sleep not as an afterthought, but as a foundation. A non-negotiable pillar of health and happiness. And the difference? Night and day.

What Poor Sleep Steals from You

Let’s not sugarcoat it: lack of sleep messes with everything.

You can’t think clearly.
You snap at your partner over nothing.
Your cravings go haywire, and your willpower evaporates.
Small challenges feel overwhelming.
Your body feels stiff, slow, and achy.
And no matter how much coffee you drink, you can’t seem to catch up.

And it’s not just “being tired.” It’s your body waving a red flag, asking for help. Left unchecked, the real cost of poor sleep runs much deeper than fatigue and fog. Over time, insufficient or low-quality sleep significantly increases your risk for a host of serious medical conditions. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It disrupts the balance of hunger hormones, which contributes to weight gain and obesity. It weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and slowing recovery when you do get sick.

Sleep is also essential for mental health. Long-term sleep issues are strongly associated with depression, anxiety disorders, and even an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. REM sleep plays a critical role in emotional processing, memory consolidation, and stress regulation—without it, your brain simply can’t function at full capacity.

In short, sleep isn't optional maintenance—it’s vital. When you miss out on restorative sleep, it’s not just your energy that suffers. It’s your whole self—body, mind, and spirit

On the Other Hand, Sleep Isn’t Just Rest—It’s Restoration

You become a better version of yourself.

But it’s not just about feeling rested—it’s about what your brain and body are actually doing while you sleep. Quality sleep is a highly active process. During deep sleep, your body releases growth hormone to repair muscles and tissues, regulate metabolism, and support healthy development and immune function. Your blood pressure drops, heart rate slows, and your body enters a state of deep restoration. This is when your cells regenerate, your inflammation levels decrease, and your body strengthens its defenses against illness and disease.

Meanwhile, your brain is doing its own incredible work. During REM sleep, the stage associated with dreaming, your brain is consolidating memories, processing emotions, and integrating what you’ve learned during the day. This stage is critical for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional resilience. It's also when your brain clears out toxic waste products, like beta-amyloid, which have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

When you sleep well, your nervous system resets, allowing you to respond to stress more calmly. Your hormones rebalance—cortisol levels lower, hunger hormones like leptin and ghrelin stabilize, and your body can better maintain a healthy weight. Your mood improves, your skin glows, and your energy levels are naturally higher without relying on caffeine or sugar to get through the day.

You make decisions with clarity. You listen more fully and respond more patiently. You enjoy deeper conversations, meals, and moments. You feel more connected to yourself and others. Life doesn’t just move forward—it moves forward with ease and alignment.

In short, sleep is your natural reboot. It doesn’t just prepare you for tomorrow—it upgrades how you live today..

So Be Honest—How’s Your Sleep, Really?

Before we go further, take a moment. Check in. Ask yourself:

Do I fall asleep easily most nights?
Do I stay asleep—or do I toss and turn?
Do I wake up feeling genuinely refreshed?
Am I sleeping 7 to 9 hours regularly?
Is my sleep schedule mostly consistent?
Am I getting deep sleep and REM—the good stuff?

If you answered “no” or “sometimes” to more than a few, you’re not alone. But you do deserve better. And better sleep is within reach if you make small, meaningful changes.

The Turning Point: A Sleep Upgrade

When I finally got serious about my sleep, I didn’t need a total life overhaul. I needed a few simple shifts that made all the difference. Here’s what worked—and still works—for me and many other.

I created a sacred wind-down ritual. No more crashing into bed straight from emails or TV. I started ending my evenings with a signal to my body: it’s time to rest. A warm shower. A book. Dim lights. Quiet. Nothing fancy—but consistent.

I keep my sleep and wake times steady, even on weekends. Yes, it took discipline at first. But my body started to thank me—falling asleep faster, waking up easier.

I made my bedroom a sanctuary. I banished the clutter and charged my phone in another room. I invested in blackout curtains and a fan for cool, quiet air. I light my favorite lavender candle when I change into my soft pajamas. Finally, I crawl onto the bed, enjoying the soft bedding. These changes make the space feel peaceful, and my sleep got deeper.

I start my mornings on my balcony with gentle stretching, a 15-minute meditation, and some journaling. I call this Sacred Time/Sacred Space. We are best in the morning as our brain waves are more often in an alpha state that supports calmness and creativity, which is excellent for gaining a healthy perspective. I also began walking in the morning sun and moving my body during the day. My energy went up, my stress went down, and my nights became more restful and enjoyable.

Each of these small shifts added up to a massive change. I wasn’t just sleeping better—I was living better.

Final Thought: Make Sleep Sacred

There’s a reason sleep is foundational in every wellness tradition, from modern science to ancient wisdom. It’s where healing happens. It’s where your dreams—literal and figurative—begin to take shape.

So tonight, instead of squeezing in one more thing, what if you gave yourself the gift of rest? What if you honored your body’s need to recharge?

You deserve that kind of care. You deserve sweet dreams.

And when you sleep well, everything gets better.