Boots On, Eyes Shut: The Strange Relationship Between Soldiers and Sleep

For civilians, sleep is a routine. A comfort. A right.
For soldiers, sleep is a privilege. A risk. Sometimes, even a weapon.

On active duty—especially in conflict zones like Kashmir, the Northeast, or along the Line of Actual Control—soldiers often go for days without consistent rest. They sleep in trenches, bunkers, forests, and snow-clad posts. Many sleep sitting, helmets on, rifles tucked under their arms—half-asleep, fully alert.

Because on the border, sleep isn’t a break. It’s a gamble.

For most of us, nighttime brings stillness. But for Indian soldiers, nightfall is often when the real danger begins—when intrusions happen, when enemies try to take advantage of the dark, when patrolling intensifies.

There are stories of soldiers sleeping in 15-minute intervals, in turns, under pouring rain or snowstorms. In high-altitude areas like Siachen or Kargil, oxygen levels drop, and so does the quality of sleep. The body is cold, the ground harder, and the mind never fully relaxed.

They don’t just sleep less.
They sleep differently.

It’s fragmented. Defensive. Interrupted by gunfire, instructions, and sometimes—alarms that mean life or death.

Lack of sleep affects memory, mood, reflexes, and immunity. And for soldiers, this isn’t just inconvenient—it’s life-threatening.

Despite all this, soldiers rarely complain. They power through. Because they’re trained to keep going, even when their body begs for rest.

Forget beds and blankets. Here’s what sleep looks like for many in the Indian Army:

These aren't complaints. They're truths.

And yet, soldiers often get up the next morning, polish their boots, adjust their uniforms, and go on as if nothing’s missing—except, maybe, another hour of sleep.

Some excerpts from conversations and letters shared by army personnel:

“We learned to fall asleep with one ear open.”
“In Siachen, your body aches for sleep more than food.”
“Sometimes, the sound of silence at night is scarier than bullets.”

One soldier shared how, during field postings, he’d sometimes only sleep when his buddy stood guard—and they’d swap every two hours. “It was never deep sleep,” he said. “But it was enough to survive another day.”

That’s the word that keeps coming up—survive.

Not thrive. Not rest. Just survive.
Even in non-conflict zones or during training, the army routine is intensely structured. Reveille (wake-up call) is often before 5 AM. Physical drills, inspections, tasks, and guard duties run through the day and night.

So while peace postings are better, sleep still plays second fiddle to duty.

Officers often say: “A soldier sleeps with his boots on—even in peace.”

Because he never knows when the call might come.

There’s no romanticising sleeplessness. It’s hard. It takes a toll. But there’s also something profound about the soldier’s relationship with rest.

They’ve mastered the art of micro-resting—catching power naps, learning to reset mentally even without physical sleep.
They know the value of rest—not as indulgence, but as survival.
They understand that resilience isn't about pushing through endlessly. It's about knowing when and how to recharge, even in 10-minute windows.

As civilians drowning in digital noise and burnout, there’s something for us to learn here:
Value your rest. Guard your peace. Fight for your own quiet.

We often say “Jai Jawan”, salute the uniform, and clap on Republic Day.

But maybe the real tribute lies in acknowledging the invisible sacrifices.

The nights they stood guard so we could sleep peacefully.
The sleep they gave up, so we could chase our dreams.
The sleepless decades that aged them too soon, but they never said a word.

Tonight, when you turn off the lights and tuck yourself in, whisper a quiet thank you.

Because somewhere in a freezing outpost, a soldier is wide awake—watching, waiting, and protecting your right to rest.

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