August 1, 2025: The Health Hack

I used to sleep through anything.

As a kid, I once slept through my neighbor’s house fire. Sirens wailed and lights flashed next to my bedroom window, but I kept on snoozing. Even when someone tried waking me, I was out cold, unaware of the chaos just a few yards away.

Now? I wake up when a floorboard creaks. Sleeping past sunrise feels like a lifetime ago. These days, as soon as morning light peeks through the blinds, my eyes snap open.

I usually get about 6 1/2 hours each night, but everything I read recommends 7-8. Time to upgrade my game.

Recently, I’ve been learning that shut-eye is a daily commitment to future brain health. Scientists say it plays a critical housekeeping role.

In the quiet hours, our brains kick into spring cleaning mode, sweeping out toxins and harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer’s. Like a rinse cycle clearing out the clutter. An overnight detox.

Skimp on slumber, and mental garbage piles up fast, which can speed up cognitive decline.

Sleep is insurance. A ritual of repair. More than a luxury, it’s an investment.

Not because I want to snore through another fire, but so I can stay sharp enough to remember it.