Sleep Always Comes First

Overview

Sleep Always Comes First reflects a new way of thinking about sleep. For many years, inadequate sleep was regarded largely as an individual’s responsibility—something that could be overcome by sleeping more, working less or simply managing time better. Advances in sleep science and sleep medicine have fundamentally changed that understanding. We now recognize that healthy sleep is one of the foundations of physical health, mental wellbeing, learning, safety and performance.

The title also carries a deliberate message. If we aspire to come first—in our studies, our careers, our sport, our relationships or simply in becoming the very best we can be—then sleep must always come first. Healthy sleep is not time lost; it is one of the most important investments we can make in our health, our families, our future and our ability to achieve our full potential.

Sleep Always Comes First forms part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar, a coordinated program of national public education presented by The Sleep Society to improve sleep health awareness across Canada.

Why it matters

Sleep influences virtually every aspect of our health and daily functioning. Poor or insufficient sleep can impair concentration, judgement, learning, mood and performance, while increasing the risk of workplace and road accidents. Over time, inadequate sleep and untreated sleep disorders are also associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, mental health problems and other chronic health conditions.

Prioritising healthy sleep benefits individuals, families, workplaces and communities. Whether the goal is better health, academic achievement, sporting performance, safer work, greater productivity or simply enjoying life to its fullest, sleep provides a foundation upon which much of our physical and mental performance depends.

Background

Sleep Always Comes First is observed throughout April as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar. The initiative encourages Canadians to recognize healthy sleep as a fundamental pillar of health and wellbeing and an important component of disease prevention, safety, performance and lifelong health.

Modern life frequently encourages us to sacrifice sleep in order to achieve more. Work, study, entertainment, technology, family responsibilities and social activities can all compete with the time our bodies need for sleep. Yet reducing sleep can undermine the very abilities we are trying to improve—including concentration, learning, judgement, reaction time, emotional regulation and physical performance.

Sleep Always Comes First challenges the idea that sleep is expendable. The message is deliberately simple: making sufficient, good-quality sleep a priority can help us become healthier, safer and better equipped to perform at our best.

Current activities

The Sleep Society and SleepSafeCanada are currently working to:

• Promote public awareness of the importance of making healthy sleep a daily priority.
• Encourage individuals, families, workplaces and communities to recognize sleep as a foundation of health, wellbeing and performance.
• Develop educational resources supporting healthy sleep habits and informed decision-making.
• Support annual awareness activities throughout April as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar.
• Encourage collaboration with sports groups and teams, healthcare organizations, schools, colleges, universities, governments and industry.
• Build partnerships and national support to expand the initiative across Canada.

Resources

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