Sleep Like a Pro: Stealing the Elite Athlete Playbook with Dr. Abhinav Singh, "The Sleep Vigilante"

What if waking up refreshed wasn't luck — but strategy?Elite athletes don't leave sleep to chance. They treat it like training, nutrition, and recovery — because at the pro level, the margins are a game of inches. This week, Dr. Alison Kole is joined by Dr. Abhinav Singh — better known as "The Sleep Vigilante" — sleep physician for the Indiana Pacers and WNBA Indiana Fever, Medical Director of the Franciscan Sleep Disorders Program, Associate Clinical Professor at Marian University, and author of Sleep to Heal.Together they translate elite-level sleep strategy into something you can use in real, everyday life — whether you're a road-warrior executive, a weekend athlete, or just tired of being tired.In this episode:The "Athlete Sleep Paradox": why the people who need the most sleep get the leastWhy a bad night isn't "just tired" — it's under-recovery, with real consequences for injury, repair, and performance"Tomorrow starts tonight": protecting your sleep window like a standing appointment with your future selfThe PACE method: Predictable timing, Air, Calm, EnvironmentSleep banking, jet lag strategy, and why melatonin is "the dinner bell, not the dinner"Travel non-negotiables: sun before screen, a digital last call, and a portable sleep kit (mask, earplugs, a familiar scent)What actually happens during deep sleep and REM — muscle repair, growth hormone, memory filing, and mood regulationWhy consistently sleeping 5-6 hours is chronic under-recovery — "cooking your body on a slow crock pot burner"Napping done right: the 20-30 minute midday recharge (a healthy snack, not a meal)Process over perfection: why chasing a perfect sleep score will drive you crazy — and what to do insteadDr. Singh's bottom line: treat sleep like a standard, not a suggestion. Don't go chasing sleep — set the stage, and let it come to you.⚠️ And remember: if you're doing everything right and still waking unrefreshed, don't sleep on your sleep disorders. Talk to a professional sooner rather than later.📖 Dr. Singh's book: Sleep to Heal 🧭 Alison's jet lag tool mentioned in the episode: Timeshifter appIf this episode changed the way you think about sleep — even a little — share it with someone who needs to hear it. Like, follow, subscribe, and help spread the message!