A few weeks ago, I asked you what topics you wanted me to write about.

Someone mentioned sleep.

And honestly, I didn’t expect that.

But then it hit me, sleep is the exact thing I’ve been struggling with lately. Especially with summer coming up.

I’ve always had terrible sleep in summer. Every year it’s the same story:

Longer days. Shorter nights. More noise. Less rest.

I wake up at 10 or 11 am feeling drained, unproductive, and honestly, disappointed in myself.

My day starts in chaos instead of clarity. And when I try to force focus or build momentum... it just doesn’t work. Sleep messes up everything.

That’s why I’m writing this article.

Because maybe you’re the same. Maybe you’re entering summer already feeling behind, tired, or out of rhythm.

So here’s how I’m fixing my sleep, this time for real.

My Summer Sleep Problem

Let me explain why sleep becomes a disaster for me in summer.

It’s not just the heat or the light. It’s deeper than that.

1. I’m a light sleeper.

If a mosquito flies by, I’m awake.
If someone coughs in the next room, I’m up.
And guess what? I live with my family.

And in summer, it’s chaos. Everyone stays up late. My parents are up past midnight.
Visitors come visit us with their kids, and the whole house turns into a festival at night. So when I try to sleep by 10 pm, it feels impossible.

2. I overthink at night.

Even when I want to sleep. Even when I’m tired. My mind just won’t stop.

And no—it’s not deep thoughts about business or goals. It’s random stuff.

Dumb, useless thoughts that go in loops.

I just want an off switch. Something to silence the noise in my head long enough to fall asleep.

So that’s the problem I’m dealing with. Now let’s talk about how I’m planning to fix it.

The Plan (How I’m Going To Sleep)

Let’s start with the most important factor: timing.

As a Muslim, I can’t go to sleep before Isha (the last prayer of the day).
In summer, Isha is called around 9:45 pm, and it gets even later, sometimes past 10 pm.

That means the earliest I can go to bed is around 10:15 pm.

But I also wake up for Fajr, which is around 4:30 am right now (and even later in summer).

So, do the math. I’m getting about 5 to 6 hours of sleep.

Now here’s where most people say, “That’s not enough, you need 8 hours.”

And yes, 8 hours is ideal, but quality matters more than quantity.

“It’s not just about how long you sleep. It’s about how well you sleep.”
— Andrew Huberman

There are people who sleep 8 hours and feel tired all day.

And there are people who sleep 5 hours and feel fresh, focused, and alive.

That’s what I’m aiming for—deep sleep, clean sleep.

To do that, I’m doing this:

1. Blocking out the noise

I’m buying earplugs or sleep buds. That’s it.
No more waking up from mosquitoes or people talking in the hallway.
If the problem is external, fix it externally. Simple.

2. Fixing my wake-up cycle

You know that feeling when you wake up during a deep sleep cycle and feel like a zombie? That’s not bad sleep—it’s bad timing.

So this summer, I’m going to use sleep apps (like Sleep Cycle) that track your sleep phases and wake you up during light sleep.

That alone can change how you feel every morning.

3. Tackling overthinking (still figuring this out)

Now this one is tricky.

I haven’t fixed it yet. I’m still struggling with shutting off my brain at night.

But I’ll be testing a few things:

• Evening journaling to get thoughts out of my head

• No screens 1 hour before bed

• Maybe even guided breathing techniques

If you have a solution that works for you, tell me in the comments.

I’m open to trying anything that helps.

4. Adding the Prophetic Nap — Qaylula

There’s also one thing I’ll reintroduce this summer: Qaylula — a short nap after Dhuhr (midday prayer), usually 30–45 minutes.

It’s a Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

“Take the midday nap, for the devils do not take a midday nap.”

This short nap recharges your body and reduces sleep pressure in the evening, making it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up early without feeling dead.

It’s one of the most overlooked habits that could make your entire sleep cycle better.

What Matters Most

Let me be honest:

This summer sleep plan is not perfect.

But for me, it’s a system that works with my life, not against it.

I pray Isha. I go to sleep. I wake up for Fajr. And I stay awake after that.

That rhythm works for me.

Trying to sleep again after Fajr ruins my whole day, I wake up groggy, lazy, and useless.
But staying awake keeps me sharp. I go to the gym early. I get work done. My mind feels clear.

“Own your morning. Elevate your life.”
— Robin Sharma

So if you’re not Muslim, or you don’t need to be up that early, fine.

Sleep from midnight to 8 am. Or 11 to 7.

The goal isn’t to copy someone’s timing.

The goal is to wake up energized and consistent, and to protect that rhythm like it’s your life force.

Because it kinda is.

How I’m Tracking It

This time, I’m not just guessing.

I’m using my Notion template to track my sleep habits.

I’ve set a new habit: “Having Good Sleep”

And every day I'll check it off (or not). Simple.

I’ll also track my sleep through my smartwatch and see how it evolves week by week.

More data. More clarity. Less guessing.

And yeah—I’ll share the results later if they’re worth sharing.

So,

Sleep is one of the most underrated parts of productivity.

You can have the best plans, tools, and systems, but if you’re tired, none of them matter.

So I’m fixing my sleep.

Not just to feel better... but to be better.

And if you’re ready to take control of your habits, too, I suggest starting with a system to track them.

I use my Notion templates to track my habits, goals, and routines, so I don’t rely on memory or motivation. Get the templates here →

Let me know what you think, and how you’re sleeping lately.

Let’s all try to make this summer one of clarity, not chaos.

Thank you for reading :)

Osama aka Ols