--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think sleep is probably the neglected…" description: "\"I think sleep is probably the neglected stepsister in the health conversation today. I think we've done a good job regarding physical activity and diet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/matthew-walker-9547_diet_i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected_2854294.jpg" --- # I think sleep is probably the neglected stepsister in the… ![“I think sleep is probably the neglected stepsister in the health conversation today. I think we've done a good job regarding physical activity and diet, but sleep has remained out there in the cold, and that's surprising to me.” quote by Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/matthew-walker-9547_diet_i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected_2854294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/matthew-walker-9547_diet_i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected_2854294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/matthew-walker-9547_diet_i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected_2854294.jpg) > “I think sleep is probably the neglected stepsister in the health conversation today. I think we've done a good job regarding physical activity and diet, but sleep has remained out there in the cold, and that's surprising to me.” [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sleep is often overlooked in health discussions, despite its critical role alongside diet and exercise. **In simple terms:** Sleep is neglected health pillar. Key Takeaway Prioritize sleep daily. Themes health sleep well‑being Mood concerned informative Type educational motivational When to use this quote - night routines - sleep hygiene - health education Key Concepts physiology public health Questions to Reflect On - How many hours do you sleep? - What changes could improve your sleep? A Different Perspective Societal habits undervalue sleep. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Diet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diet/) [Diet Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diet-sleep-560957/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-job/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-conversation-3816328/) [Physical activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-activity/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Sleep Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep-probably-1725577/) [Stepsister Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepsister-health-3816327/) [Think Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-sleep-725527/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [“So the Deep Nutrition formula for weight loss is simple: Get rid of inflammation that blocks cellular communication, and eat foods that enable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-shanahan/so-the-deep-nutrition-formula-for-weight-loss-is-simple-get-rid-of/) [Catherine Shanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-shanahan/) > [The mental health conversation is very important to me. I have friends that struggle with various mental illnesses. I've struggled with depression and anxiety.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-quick/the-mental-health-conversation-is-very-important-to-me-i-have-friends/) [Matthew Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-quick/) > [I think we perhaps are, with sleep, where we were with smoking about 50 years ago, in that we had all of the science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-think-we-perhaps-are-with-sleep-where-we-were-with-smoking-about-50/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [If we didn't need eight hours of sleep and could survive on six, Mother Nature would have done away with 25 percent of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/if-we-didn-t-need-eight-hours-of-sleep-and-could-survive-on-six/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Some people think it's extreme that I don't even drink during the season, that I try not to have added sugars. I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/some-people-think-it-s-extreme-that-i-don-t-even-drink-during-the/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [Dress loose,take a great deal of exercise ,and be particular about your diet and sleep sound enough,the body has a great effect on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/dress-loose-take-a-great-deal-of-exercise-and-be-particular-about/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Fitness is essential, and so is diet, but sleep is the most important of them all. It helps our body to recover from all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sooraj-pancholi/fitness-is-essential-and-so-is-diet-but-sleep-is-the-most-important/) [Sooraj Pancholi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sooraj-pancholi/) > [Sleep is probably the most important biological function. If you don't get enough sleep, you can get psychiatric illnesses and all types of different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hart/sleep-is-probably-the-most-important-biological-function-if-you-don-t/) [Carl Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hart/) > [I have my phone by my bed - I know everyone says you're supposed to turn it off - and it distorts your sleep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-have-my-phone-by-my-bed-i-know-everyone-says-you-re-supposed-to/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [I don't sleep much. Five to six, I'd say. You could argue that people, as they get older, sleep less - probably because they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-don-t-sleep-much-five-to-six-i-d-say-you-could-argue-that-people-as/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [My health and schoolwork come first. I work hard to get lots of sleep, but I probably work just as hard to spend time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marley-dias/my-health-and-schoolwork-come-first-i-work-hard-to-get-lots-of-sleep/) [Marley Dias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marley-dias/) > [Of all the things a man may do, sleep probably contributes most to keeping him sane. It puts brackets about each day. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/of-all-the-things-a-man-may-do-sleep-probably-contributes-most-to/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [For far too many people in the world, the vicious cycle of financial deprivation also feeds into the vicious cycle of sleep deprivation. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/for-far-too-many-people-in-the-world-the-vicious-cycle-of-financial/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I'm not very good at going to sleep, and that's probably my worst problem. I don't need much more than seven and a half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/i-m-not-very-good-at-going-to-sleep-and-that-s-probably-my-worst/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [“I am myself when I get up, I am myself throughout the day and I am myself when I go back to sleep, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pushpa-rana/i-am-myself-when-i-get-up-i-am-myself-throughout-the-day-and-i-am/) [Pushpa Rana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pushpa-rana/) ## More by Matthew Walker > [“Routinely sleeping less than six or seven hours a night demolishes your immune system, more than doubling your risk of cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/routinely-sleeping-less-than-six-or-seven-hours-a-night-demolishes/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [You're trying to sleep off a debt that you've lumbered your brain and body with during the week, and wouldn't it be lovely if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/you-re-trying-to-sleep-off-a-debt-that-you-ve-lumbered-your-brain-and/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.”VII”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/the-best-bridge-between-despair-and-hope-is-a-good-night-s-sleep-vii/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [I think we perhaps are, with sleep, where we were with smoking about 50 years ago, in that we had all of the science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-think-we-perhaps-are-with-sleep-where-we-were-with-smoking-about-50/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [It's simply that older adults don't seem to be able to generate sleep efficiently, and that's why they're not getting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/it-s-simply-that-older-adults-don-t-seem-to-be-able-to-generate-sleep/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [The time of night when you sleep makes a significant difference in terms of the structure and quality of your sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/the-time-of-night-when-you-sleep-makes-a-significant-difference-in/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Do you tend to sleep in during the weekends? That usually signals that you're trying to sleep off a debt you've accumulated during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/do-you-tend-to-sleep-in-during-the-weekends-that-usually-signals-that/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [No one wants to give up time with their family or entertainment, so they give up sleep instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/no-one-wants-to-give-up-time-with-their-family-or-entertainment-so/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [If sleep does not provide a remarkable set of benefits, then it's the biggest mistake the evolutionary process has ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/if-sleep-does-not-provide-a-remarkable-set-of-benefits-then-it-s-the/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Your subjective sense of how well you're doing under conditions of sleep deprivation is a miserable predictor of, objectively, how you actually are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/your-subjective-sense-of-how-well-you-re-doing-under-conditions-of/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [If you were not to set an alarm clock, would you sleep past it? If the answer is yes, then there is clearly more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/if-you-were-not-to-set-an-alarm-clock-would-you-sleep-past-it-if-the/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Friends say, 'Shall we go out to dinner at 8?' I say, 'I can't, I'm a 10 A.M.-till-6:30 P.M. kind of guy.' I keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/friends-say-shall-we-go-out-to-dinner-at-8-i-say-i-can-t-i-m-a-10-a-m/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [I give myself a non-negotiable eight-hour sleep opportunity every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-give-myself-a-non-negotiable-eight-hour-sleep-opportunity-every/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [We know that efficiency and effectiveness are increased when you're getting sufficient sleep, and it will take you longer to do the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/we-know-that-efficiency-and-effectiveness-are-increased-when-you-re/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [As you try to tweak your sleep one way or the other, you might be, you might be doing great - you might do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/as-you-try-to-tweak-your-sleep-one-way-or-the-other-you-might-be-you/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) [Explore all 72 Matthew Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) ## More Diet quotes > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [My soul is dark with stormy riot: directly traced over to diet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-hoffenstein/my-soul-is-dark-with-stormy-riot-directly-traced-over-to-diet/) [Samuel Hoffenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-hoffenstein/) > [A significant number of research studies have documented that heart disease is easily and almost completely preventable through a diet rich in plant produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-fuhrman/a-significant-number-of-research-studies-have-documented-that-heart/) [Joel Fuhrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-fuhrman/) > [I'll only diet for a Marvel movie. I will give up bacon and waffles to be Storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-ll-only-diet-for-a-marvel-movie-i-will-give-up-bacon-and-waffles-to/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [I think, for me, I really looked at nutrition, talked to some people who knew a lot about nutrition, looked at different meal plans...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/i-think-for-me-i-really-looked-at-nutrition-talked-to-some-people-who/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [As an athlete, if you train your body but don't fuel it the right way, that doesn't make much sense. Adopting a plant-based diet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-gasol/as-an-athlete-if-you-train-your-body-but-don-t-fuel-it-the-right-way/) [Marc Gasol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-gasol/) > [“I’m a big believer in cooking your own meals. It makes it much easier not only to ensure that you eat fresh foods but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ori-hofmekler/i-m-a-big-believer-in-cooking-your-own-meals-it-makes-it-much-easier/) [Ori Hofmekler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ori-hofmekler/) > [I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-decided-to-pick-the-diet-that-i-thought-would-maximize-my-chances/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [“These findings—the contents of Part II of this book—show that heart disease, diabetes and obesity can be reversed by a healthy diet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/these-findings-the-contents-of-part-ii-of-this-book-show-that-heart/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [I basically follow a modified Zone Diet. I have my food prepared weekly and eat 6 times a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-liddell/i-basically-follow-a-modified-zone-diet-i-have-my-food-prepared/) [Chuck Liddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-liddell/) > [“... the Possession Diet. It's fast. It works. It introduces you to new, healthier foods. And it's almost never fatal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dolley/the-possession-diet-it-s-fast-it-works-it-introduces-you-to-new/) [Chris Dolley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-dolley/) > [If I were to organize somebody's diet I would first of all ensure they were getting enough protein, make sure it is the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/if-i-were-to-organize-somebody-s-diet-i-would-first-of-all-ensure/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [What every human being should do is eat a vegetarian diet based on whole foods. Period. That's it. Animal protein is bad for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/what-every-human-being-should-do-is-eat-a-vegetarian-diet-based-on/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) [Browse all 1,502 Diet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think sleep is probably the neglected stepsister in the health conversation today. I think we've done a good job regarding physical activity and diet, but sleep has remained out there in the cold, and that's surprising to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Walker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected-stepsister-in-the-health/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Diet" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected-stepsister-in-the-health/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/matthew-walker-9547_diet_i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected_2854294.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/matthew-walker-9547_diet_i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected_2854294.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63d/matthew-walker-9547_diet_i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected_2854294.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think sleep is probably the neglected stepsister in the health conversation today. I think we've done a…” — Matthew Walker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matthew Walker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think sleep is probably the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected-stepsister-in-the-health/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-think-sleep-is-probably-the-neglected-stepsister-in-the-health/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```