Why I’m Committing to 8 Hours of Sleep Every Night

This is the first goal / habit I’ll be focusing on during the month of March.

As I’ve mentioned before, this doesn’t mean I’ll be neglecting sleep in other months - it simply means that during March, I’m placing a particular emphasis on getting to bed on time and waking up at the same time each day, as consistently as possible.

For the most part, I’m a good sleeper. Strangely, for a while now (since Wil was born, perhaps?), I’ve been waking up very early, sometimes as early as 4:00 a.m. Thankfully, that also means I tend to go to bed early, usually around 9:00 p.m.

That hasn’t always been easy, especially since moving to Italy, where dinner sometimes doesn’t even start until 9:00 p.m! Still, this rhythm seems to work for me, but I’m curious to see what happens when I commit to it with real consistency.

What draws me to this habit, like the others, isn’t perfection - it’s awareness. I want to notice how consistent sleep makes me feel, and pay attention to any obstacles, disruptions, or outliers that show up throughout the month.

The Science Behind It

Sleep plays a foundational role in nearly every aspect of health - from cognitive function and emotional regulation to immune support, metabolism, and long-term wellbeing.

Consistent sleep and wake times help regulate our circadian rhythm, which supports energy, focus, and resilience throughout the day. It’s not just about how much we sleep, but how regularly we do it.

In “The Sleep Revolution,” Arianna Huffington explores how modern culture has normalized exhaustion and undervalued rest, often at the expense of health, clarity, and decision-making. She reframes sleep not as a luxury or indulgence, but as a critical pillar of performance, creativity, and overall wellbeing. It’s a reminder that when we protect our sleep, everything else tends to work a little better.

In many ways, sleep is the habit that quietly supports all the others.

My “Why”

Committing to 8 hours of sleep each night isn’t about chasing an ideal number.

It’s about:
Honouring my body’s natural rhythms
Creating steadiness rather than variability
Supporting energy, mood, and focus in a simple, direct way

I want to experience what happens when rest becomes non-negotiable — not something I squeeze in only if everything else goes well.

Connection to My Values

Consistency over intensity
Listening to my body
Caring for long-term health
Choosing sustainability over burnout

What I Hope to Learn

This habit may look simple, but I suspect it will be revealing.

I’m curious:
How does consistent sleep affect my mood and patience?
What happens to my energy when bedtime becomes a priority?
Where do I feel resistance, even to rest?

More than anything, I want to notice how small disruptions - late nights, early mornings, shifting routines - show up in my body and mind.

Invitation

You don’t need to aim for 8 hours of sleep.  Sleep more, sleep less.  But be curious about it.

Is there a rhythm your body has been asking for - an earlier bedtime, a gentler morning, or more consistency from day to day? What’s your overall relationship with rest and sleep?

No right answers - just curiosity.