But what if some deadlines are actually reasonable with better planning? I mean, engineers often spec based on the best data available, not willfully ignoring field conditions. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I've seen projects where constant double-checking creates more delays than it prevents. Sure, callbacks are costly, but missing deadlines can mean losing the client altogether. Holding the line on quality matters, but so does showing we can adapt and deliver. Maybe the balance comes from tightening communication loops early, not just slowing down at the end.

Actually reading "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker was what initially made me question the rigid eight hour rule myself. He discusses how historical records show humans naturally tended toward segmented sleep patterns before artificial lighting. That got me tracking my own deep sleep cycles versus just total hours, using a basic fitness watch. Noticed I was hitting all the restorative stages within about six and a half hours, and any extra time in bed was just light, fragmented sleep. The data showed my body was done, so I stopped fighting it.