In addition to the stresses of daily life and devices, the constant buzz of city life makes it tempting to forgo a night of rest for some prata at the coffee shop or a “quick” game of mahjong.
Dr Joseph Leong, senior consultant psychiatrist at mental health clinic Promises Healthcare, said that he has encountered patients who said that because they could not sleep, they would eat and “play” throughout the night.
“Late-night mahjong or social gaming requires intense focus, strategy and engagement, which keeps the brain alert and delays relaxation.”
He added that late-night suppers can cause discomfort and result in indigestion and acid reflux, making it harder to fall asleep.
“Drinks consumed during supper such as kopi (coffee) or milk tea contain caffeine, and spicy food like laksa can stimulate the body and delay sleep onset.”
“I’LL SLEEP WHEN I’M DEAD”
The glorification of hustle culture began during the entrepreneurial boom in the 1990s and early 2000s, when the rise of technology startups in Silicon Valley laid the foundation for the lifestyle of intense, all-consuming work ethics and needing very little sleep.
Prominent figures such as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher were famously known for functioning only on four hours of sleep a night, which added to the perception that successful leaders required very little sleep.
This continued into the 2010s, when many chief executive officers of multinational companies such as Mr Jack Dorsey, co-founder and former CEO of X (formerly Twitter); Ms Marissa Mayer, former CEO of Yahoo; and Ms Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, constantly boasted of needing only four hours of sleep a night.
However, a cultural shift from glorifying sleep deprivation to valuing rest and sleep began in the mid-2010s, driven by increasing awareness of the health and productivity costs of insufficient sleep.
Public figures such as Ms Arianna Huffington, co-founder of news site The Huffington Post and founder of behavioural health technology firm Thrive Global, experienced burnout and became vocal advocates of sleep’s importance, framing it as essential for success rather than a sign of weakness.
Although there has been greater awareness on the importance of sleep in Singapore, its impact has yet to be fully realised.
Asst Prof Lo said: “The Confucian emphasis on hard work is deeply ingrained in many Asian societies, including Singapore.
“Many individuals do not value their sleep. They prioritise their work and study over sleep, thinking that longer wake hours mean more work can be done.”
Mr Iqmall the video producer is very familiar with such thinking. When he started working, he felt the need to “prove his worth” and “close the gap” between himself and his peers.
“This often comes in the form of spending late nights, improving my craft and taking the time to better myself,” he recalled.
It did not stop there.
“After I’d reached a milestone of sorts came the need to produce better or quicker. I often fell back on the idea that if I’m working while people are asleep, I’m getting ahead.”
Ms Wong the content developer said that hustle culture is very much “romanticised” in Singapore. “I think we all know that sleep is important, but we just don’t want to lose (when work is competitive).”
People need to look like they are working harder than their peers for “bragging rights”, she added.
She admitted that, like many bright-eyed 20somethings, she also went through a phase of not needing sleep to function. During this time, she worked hard in school and partied even harder into the night, her head barely touching the pillow.
“Yes, working overtime sometimes is okay, but burning the midnight oil is not supposed to be something like a trophy on your shelf,” Ms Wong added.
“As I grow older, I feel sleep is so important. I start my day right when I wake up with enough sleep.”
Ms Zawani who works in the media industry noted that although there have been more discussions about getting better sleep such as delaying school starting times, the “always-on” culture is still strong in Singapore.
“I don’t think we generally take our sleep quality seriously. I mean, look at how being on our phones almost 24/7 and answering work emails outside work hours are normalised.
“You know what isn’t normalised? Saying you’ve had a good night’s sleep and feeling energised throughout the day,” Ms Zawani added.
While the dream of getting a good night’s rest seems elusive to most Singaporeans, some people have managed to achieve it.
Ms Divika Jethmal religiously clocks in eight hours of good-quality sleep nearly daily. The 29-year-old said that her journey to better sleep was an “unintentional side effect” of minimising doomscrolling on social media.
The head of marketing in Asia at Carma, a global media intelligence and research solutions firm, said that since December last year, she had removed the Instagram mobile application from her phone.
The move was primarily driven by an increasing FOMO (fear of missing out) feeling that she had while scrolling through the app and seeing other people’s Instagram-worthy lives, and the shock that hit her when she realised how much time she was spending on it. She has also been off Facebook and video-sharing site TikTok for a year.
Before moving away from the apps, she was getting four to six hours of sleep on weekdays.
“Staying up till 2am or 3am was what my body clock was used to, which affected my energy and productivity the next day.” Ms Divika also frequently binge-watched shows on Netflix, speeding through drama series and snacking on junk food.
“After removing the apps that promote doomscrolling and contribute to ‘noise’ in my brain, I felt empty initially because I didn’t have that glimpse into others’ lives,” she said, noting that deleting social media apps from her phone was a game-changer.
Her body clock has adjusted to the new normal and she now falls asleep before 11pm and wakes up around 7am daily feeling “incredible”.
“Slowly but surely, I am finding more balance between work and rest. I find myself looking forward to bedtime.”
