Adopt this simple sleep habit to avoid rushing, a time expert says.

Time-management author Laura Vanderkam says keeping a consistent bedtime can help prevent last-minute rushing and structure the day; a July 2025 Nature study of about 79,000 working adults linked irregular bedtimes with lower productivity and disengagement.

Laura Vanderkam, an author and time management expert, says many people have a regular wake-up time but no set bedtime. She argues that a consistent bedtime helps maintain focus and prevents tasks from piling up into frantic, error-prone rushes. Vanderkam reports that a participant in her 2021 survey called a set bedtime “the least sexy, but the most impactful” productivity rule. She also describes using an 11 p.m. bedtime and suggests working backward from needed sleep and wake time to determine a bedtime. Key facts: - In spring 2021, Vanderkam surveyed more than 150 participants who spent nine weeks using preset productivity rules that included keeping a consistent bedtime. - A July 2025 study published in Nature observed roughly 79,000 working adults in Japan and reported that irregular bedtimes were linked to lower productivity and greater disengagement at work. - Rachel Salas, a sleep neurologist at Johns Hopkins, said disordered sleep can affect the circadian rhythm and discussed observing natural wake times and making gradual adjustments. - The Mayo Clinic notes that most adults typically need around seven hours of sleep per night, while individual needs can vary. - Vanderkam recommends calculating bedtime by counting back from the wake-up time using the amount of sleep that helps an individual feel mentally sharp. Summary: A consistent bedtime is presented as a way to give the day clearer boundaries, support steadier focus, and reduce rushed work, according to Vanderkam and supporting research. Undetermined at this time.