Staying Up Late Makes You More Productive? Here's the Explanation from an Expert

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JAKARTA - One of the myths that some people still often believe is that when they stay up late, their bodies will be more productive for work or completing school assignments.

However, this habit is actually not good for health. Neuropsikolog, Sanam Hafeez, PsyD, said that staying up late makes you more productive is just a myth, and it is actually justri risky for both physical and mental health.

"Cutting back on rest time may give you a few extra hours to work. But the consequences are decreased concentration, irritability, a weakened immune system, to an increased risk of mental health disorders," explained Hafeez, quoted from Verywell Mind, Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

When someone is sleep-deprived, the ability to concentrate decreases, the process of remembering information becomes more difficult, and the ability to solve problems is also disrupted. The condition will even make the work being done hampered.

Not only that, lack of sleep also affects a person's ability to control emotions. People who are sleep-deprived tend to be more irritable, more reactive to stress, and have difficulty regulating their emotions.

If it is done in the long term, this condition can affect relationships with others, worsen the quality of decision-making, and increase tension with family and in the work environment.

Conversely, when sleep needs are met, the brain has the opportunity to recover. When sleeping, the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex, which plays a role in planning, decision-making, and others, undergoes a recovery process so that it can work more efficiently the next day.

"It's not about working longer, but working smarter, and sleep plays a big role in that," said Sleepopolis Chief Medical Advisor Raj Dasgupta, MD.

People who prioritize sleep will generally also feel benefits such as focusing longer without quickly experiencing mental fatigue, higher quality work results, easier to prioritize work, to be more creative and able to think strategically.

Thus, sleep is not just a time to rest. Sleep is an investment so that the body and brain can work optimally, and health is still well maintained.