Does Making up Sleep Work?

Can you make up missed sleep the next night? The simple answer is yes. If you have to get up early for an appointment on a Friday, and then sleep in that Saturday, you'll mostly recover your missed sleep. Sleep is a restorative activity — while you sleep, your brain is cataloging information and healing your body.

Can lost sleep be made up?

“Yes, people can make up for lost sleep on another day,” says Dr. Chuck Smith, one of our primary care physicians at UAMS. “The amount of sleep lost and recovered may not be the same, though.

Is it good to catch up on sleep?

It is possible to catch up on sleep if you're suffering from acute sleep debt. By catching up on sleep, you'll reverse the short-term damage done from not meeting your sleep need, and you'll have more energy to be and feel your best during the day.