WHy is sleep so important? With Terry Cralle
Why Sleep Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Life
Let me ask you something—and I want you to answer it honestly.
When was the last time you got a full night of sleep…
and didn’t feel guilty about it?
Not “I crashed because I was exhausted.”
Not “I slept in because I couldn’t function.”
I mean intentional, restful, on-purpose sleep.
If you’re like most high-achieving women, the answer is probably:
“It’s been a while.”
And that’s exactly why we need to talk about this.
We’ve Been Lied To About Sleep
Somewhere along the way, we bought into this idea that:
Sleeping less means you’re more productive
Being busy means you’re more valuable
Rest is something you earn after everything else is done
So we stay up later.
We wake up earlier.
We push through exhaustion.
And we tell ourselves:
“I’ll catch up later.”
But here’s the truth…
You don’t catch up on sleep the way you think you do.
And your body is keeping score.
You’re Not “Fine”—You’re Just Used to It
One of the most powerful things Terry shared in this episode is this:
You don’t “get used to” not sleeping.
You just get used to functioning at a lower level.
Let that sink in.
That version of you who feels:
Foggy
Irritable
Overwhelmed
Stuck
That might not be your “normal.”
That might be your sleep-deprived baseline.
Sleep Impacts Everything (Yes, Everything)
We tend to treat sleep like it’s optional.
Like it’s this separate category from our health, our work, our relationships.
It’s not.
Sleep is the foundation that everything else is built on.
When you’re not getting enough sleep:
Your hormones get thrown off → you crave sugar and carbs
Your metabolism slows → weight gain feels impossible to control
Your brain struggles → poor decisions, lack of focus
Your emotions spike → more stress, more conflict
Your body weakens → you get sick more often
And over time?
We’re talking about serious long-term consequences—things like chronic illness and cognitive decline.
This isn’t just about being tired.
This is about your life.
The Productivity Myth Is Backwards
This is the part that challenges most people.
Because it doesn’t feel true at first.
But it is.
You do not get more done by sleeping less.
You get more done by being well-rested.
When you’re rested:
You think faster
You focus better
You solve problems more efficiently
You make stronger decisions
You show up as a better leader, partner, parent, human
So no…
Sleep isn’t taking time away from your day.
It’s making your time more effective.
Let’s Talk About Why You’re Not Sleeping
This is where we need to get real.
Because for most women, it’s not just about “I can’t sleep.”
It’s:
“I have too much to do.”
“I’ll just finish one more thing.”
“I don’t want to waste time.”
Or deeper than that…
You associate rest with laziness
You’ve been praised for overworking
You’ve tied your worth to your productivity
So even when you could sleep…
You don’t.
You Don’t Need More Discipline—You Need Permission
Permission to:
Stop earlier
Close the laptop
Turn off the notifications
Go to bed without finishing everything
Because here’s the truth you might not want to hear:
There will always be more to do.
But there won’t always be more of you.
Start Small (But Start Now)
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight.
You need to build awareness and momentum.
Start here:
Go to bed 30 minutes earlier tonight
Replace scrolling with reading
Try a 20-minute nap instead of another cup of coffee
Pay attention to how you feel after one good night of sleep
Not perfect.
Just intentional.
The Question That Changes Everything
Before you move on from this post, sit with this:
Do I actually believe I deserve rest?
Because if the answer is no…
That’s the real work.
Final Thought
You can keep pushing.
You can keep running on empty.
You can keep telling yourself you’re “fine.”
But eventually, your body will decide for you.
So the real question is:
Will you choose rest now…
or wait until you’re forced into it?
If this hit you, don’t just nod and move on.
Actually do something with it.
Go to bed earlier tonight.
Your future self will thank you.