Nepal, lack of sleep is rarely treated as a health concern. It is often worn like a badge of discipline or sacrifice. Students stay up late preparing for exams. Shift workers push through long nights. Parents juggle jobs, households, and family responsibilities with little rest. When exhaustion shows up, it is usually dismissed with a familiar phrase: this is just life. The brain, however, does not see it that way. Sleep is not a luxury or a reward for finishing work; it is a biological requirement. Without adequate sleep, the brain cannot function, adapt, or repair itself properly. When sleep is disrupted night after night, the consequences go far beyond feeling tired. They shape how we think, regulate emotions, store memories, and protect ourselves from disease. During sleep, the brain performs some of its most critical tasks. Neural connections formed during the day are reorganized, strengthening useful information while clearing unnecessary signals. This is how learning stabilizes and memories take shape. Sleep also allows the brain to flush out metabolic waste that accumulates during waking hours. When sleep is repeatedly cut short, these processes remain incomplete, leaving the brain insufficiently reset for the next day. Sleep deprivation is also closely connected to physical health. Studies in Nepal have shown strong associations between sleep problems and overweight and obesity among adolescents, alongside poor diet and low physical activity. Over time, these patterns increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Sleep is not separate from public health; it sits at its centre. For children and adolescents, the consequences are even more serious. A school-based study in Kathmandu reported that more than 60 per cent of early adolescents had poor sleep quality, strongly linked to heavy social media use and lower academic performance. Adolescence is a critical period for brain development. Persistent sleep disruption during these years interferes with memory formation, emotional regulation, and the development of self-control, with effects that can last into adulthood.
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