The Underrated Power of Sleep: Why Rest Is the Ultimate Wellness Flex

Los Angeles Times

01-04-2025

We live in a world that glamorizes the grind. But let's set the record straight: sleep isn't optional. It's a non-negotiable pillar of health—and it might just be the ultimate wellness hack you've been ignoring. There's a mountain of science backing what you already feel in your bones after a restless night: sleep affects everything. From your focus and hormones to your skin and heart, how well you sleep shapes how well you live.
Here's why sleep matters — and what it's doing behind the scenes while you snooze.
Sleep isn't downtime — it's prime time for your brain. While you rest, your mind is hard at work storing memories, processing emotions, and clearing out mental clutter. Harvard research shows that solid sleep improves focus, creativity, and decision-making. Skimp on it, and your productivity tanks while brain fog rolls in. So yes, your 3 p.m. crash and forgotten passwords might just be a sleep issue, not a you issue.
Ever felt irrationally weepy or wildly annoyed after a rough night? That's not just in your head. Sleep stabilizes mood and helps your brain cope with stress. When you're short on sleep, your emotional center gets hyperactive, making little things feel overwhelming.
Bottom line: more sleep, fewer meltdowns.
Think of sleep as your body's built-in immune booster. While you're dreaming, your body's defense system gears up — producing antibodies and fighting inflammation. According to UC Davis Health, consistent sleep strengthens your ability to fight off illness, while chronic sleep loss increases your chances of catching colds, flu, and more. Translation? Getting sick less often could start with going to bed on time.
For women, the road through perimenopause and menopause is often paved with sleep disruptions. Hormones play a starring role here. According to Health and Wellness Coach Jill Foos, many midlife women experience poor sleep starting in perimenopause. 'Since progesterone promotes relaxation and deep sleep, its loss contributes to insomnia and restlessness,' Foos explains. Estrogen doesn't make things easier. 'Fluctuations affect deep sleep, increase night sweats, weaken the bladder, and raise the risk of snoring and sleep apnea,' she adds. In other words, it's not just you. Your hormones really are waking you up at 3 a.m.
Cravings out of control? Can't shake the extra weight? Sleep could be the silent saboteur. Your hunger hormones (leptin and ghrelin) rely on sleep to stay balanced. Lose sleep, and you'll feel hungrier, crave carbs, and struggle with blood sugar spikes. The CDC links chronic sleep loss to insulin resistance and increased diabetes risk. Better sleep might be your best-kept secret for metabolic health.
Good sleep helps your heart run like clockwork. It keeps your blood pressure in check, regulates stress hormones, and supports healthy circulation. 'Disruptions can contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer's, and insulin resistance,' Foos notes. Prioritizing rest isn't indulgent, it's protective.
There's a reason it's called beauty sleep. During deep sleep, blood flow to the skin increases, collagen production kicks in, and your body repairs daytime damage. Skip sleep, and you'll see the effects in the mirror: dullness, puffiness, and premature aging.
Lack of sleep raises cortisol (your stress hormone), and high cortisol makes it harder to fall and stay asleep. It's a vicious cycle. The fix? Create a wind-down routine that signals to your body that it's safe to rest. Think magnesium-rich snacks, meditation, or screen-free time before bed.
Women are twice as likely as men to report sleep issues, especially during hormonal shifts like pregnancy and menopause. But we've been told it's just part of the deal. It's not. And it's time we talk about it. 'Sleep is foundational, especially during midlife,' says Foos. 'Yet many women go years without realizing that their fatigue, brain fog, or irritability could be linked to sleep disruptions caused by hormones,' she adds.
Awareness is powerful—and so is seeking support.
If you've tried every sleep tea on the shelf and still toss and turn, don't go at it alone. 'Consulting a specialist in sleep and hormones is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment,' says Foos. Conditions like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or menopause-related insomnia need personalized care. You deserve to sleep well. Period.
The next time you feel tempted to power through another late night, remember this: sleep is your body's most essential repair tool. It regulates your mood, sharpens your mind, protects your heart, and supports your hormones. So, no, sleeping isn't slacking. It's your body's way of keeping you sharp, sane, and strong.