Thomas J Balkin’s latest article in Oxford Academic’s Sleep journal claims that sleep banking, a concept hinged on extending nighttime rest to counter potential future deficit, is a result of storing up extra sleep. “All individuals, regardless of sleep history, can benefit operationally from sleep banking,” concludes Balkin’s study published in November 2025. The paper claims that getting a couple of extra hours of sleep at night not only helps address the loss-of-sleep-induced deficit in alertness and performance but also encourages faster recovery from sleep restriction. Dr Sunil Kumar K, Lead Consultant – Interventional Pulmonology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, explained that sleep banking is a simple idea backed by science. It means getting extra rest on the days before a stressful, demanding, or sleep-loss event, such as travel, night shifts, exams, long workdays, or competitions.

Source: Indian Express December 21, 2025 09:34 UTC