If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, you’re not alone. Whether it’s due to a busy work schedule, parenting responsibilities, travel, or late-night screen time, many people don’t get the recommended amount of sleep each night. Over time, those missed hours can add up, creating what’s known as sleep debt.

But can you “pay back” that lost sleep? The answer is yes, to some extent. However, recovering from sleep debt isn’t always as simple as sleeping in for one weekend.