Sleep Banking: Can Extra Rest Be Stored for a Future Wake-Up?

The BBC explores whether “sleep banking”—extending sleep in advance of anticipated deprivation—really helps alertness and performance. Early military studies suggested benefits, and some doctors and athletes have reported improved performance after extra sleep. Yet researchers remain divided: some argue sleep can’t be stored like a bank and that improvements may reflect avoiding debt rather than storing surplus. Most agree seven to nine hours of nightly sleep is optimal, and while 30–60 extra minutes or short naps before a busy period can help, sleep banking isn’t a long-term solution and shouldn’t replace regular sleep.