What Would You Do If You Didn’t Need Sleep? A Hiker’s Perspective

Daily writing prompt If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time? View all responses

Imagine the possibilities: a life without the need for sleep. What would you do with all those extra hours? As a hiker, my mind immediately jumps to the trails, the peaks, and the endless wild landscapes waiting to be explored. Sleep, while restorative and necessary, often feels like an interruption to the adventure. If sleep were no longer part of the equation, the opportunities for discovery, connection, and personal growth would be limitless.

Here’s how I’d use that newfound time as a hiker—and why the outdoors would benefit from a world of tireless exploration.

Endless Trails, Endless Opportunities

Every hiker has felt the pull of a trail they couldn’t finish in one day. Whether it’s the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, or a challenging summit that requires an overnight stop, the need for rest often dictates the pace. Without the need for sleep, I’d tackle the longest trails with uninterrupted momentum.

Multi-day treks would turn into multi-day marathons. The 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail? It could be completed in half the time. The logistics of setting up camp, finding water before dark, or worrying about nocturnal wildlife would no longer be necessary.

Even more exciting would be the freedom to explore lesser-known trails. Often, popular routes get the attention because they’re accessible within standard daylight hours. Without the constraints of sleep, I’d venture into the hidden gems of public lands, following trails less traveled or even blazing new ones.

Chasing Sunrises and Sunsets

Hikers often talk about golden hour—the time when the sun rises or sets, painting the landscape in surreal colors. Usually, catching both in one day means you’re setting an early alarm or staying up late. But what if you could chase sunrises and sunsets nonstop?

With no need to sleep, I’d plan routes to witness every sunrise and sunset from breathtaking vantage points. Imagine standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon for sunrise, trekking through the forest to a high alpine meadow for sunset, and repeating that cycle over and over.

The beauty of nature changes with light, and this kind of freedom would allow for a deeper appreciation of the natural world’s rhythms. It would also open up opportunities for night hiking—a vastly underrated experience where trails take on a magical, otherworldly vibe under the stars.

The Night Sky’s Secrets

Speaking of stars, nighttime would no longer be reserved for sleep. Instead, I’d dedicate those hours to stargazing and astrophotography. One of the greatest joys of hiking in remote areas is seeing the stars without light pollution. Imagine spending hours soaking in the view of the Milky Way from a desert plateau or watching meteor showers from a secluded mountain peak.

With more time, I could also dive into learning constellations and studying celestial navigation—a skill ancient travelers and explorers relied on long before GPS. Hiking and navigating by starlight would add a fascinating layer to the outdoor experience.

Sleepless: A Novel

What LAPD cop Parker Hass wants is a world both safe and just for his wife and infant daughter. But then a plague of insomnia strikes. Working undercover as a drug dealer in a Los Angeles ruled in equal parts by martial law and insurgency, Park is tasked with cutting off illegal trade in Dreamer, the only drug that can give the infected their precious sleep. After a year of lost leads, Park stumbles into the perilous shadows cast by the pharmaceutical giant behind Dreamer. Somewhere in those shadows a secret is hiding. Drawn into the inner circle of a tech guru with a warped agenda, Park delves deeper into the restless world. His wife has become sleepless, and their daughter may soon share the same fate. For them, he will risk everything. Whatever the cost to himself.

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Redefining Productivity in the Wild

For many hikers, time in the wilderness is as much about mental clarity as it is about physical challenge. The need for sleep often limits how much we can achieve in both areas. Without sleep, I’d have the freedom to combine more activities in a single day: hiking, journaling, sketching, and even volunteering for trail maintenance.

Trail maintenance, in particular, could benefit from sleep-free hikers. The extra hours could be spent repairing trails, clearing brush, and preserving the very landscapes we love to explore. It would be a way to give back while still experiencing the wild.

Breaking Through Physical Limits

One of the most exciting aspects of hiking without needing sleep would be pushing the boundaries of endurance. Right now, thru-hikers often spend months preparing for long-distance trails, balancing their physical capabilities with the realities of fatigue. Without sleep, it wouldn’t just be about going farther—it’d be about redefining what’s possible.

Imagine 24-hour endurance hikes where you keep moving from dawn to dawn without stopping. Trails like Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon, typically completed by ultra-athletes in a single exhausting day, could become a more accessible challenge. The physical strain would still exist, but you’d have an edge without the need to rest your body for sleep recovery.

Creative Exploration and Content Creation

As someone who writes about hiking, extra time would also mean more opportunities for storytelling. I’d use those additional hours to document hikes in greater detail—whether through writing, photography, or videos. Hiking has a way of inspiring creativity, and I’d channel that inspiration into capturing the essence of trails, sharing tips for others, and encouraging people to connect with the outdoors.

The combination of real-time exploration and creative output could even result in a more comprehensive digital resource for hikers—a way to inspire a larger community to take their own adventures to the next level.

Building Connections with Fellow Hikers

The hiking community is one of the most welcoming and diverse groups of people you’ll ever meet. Without the limitations of sleep, I’d have more time to engage with fellow hikers, whether that’s on the trail or online.

Imagine spending the day hiking solo to a remote peak, then joining a group around a campfire to swap stories late into the night. These moments of connection often happen in fleeting hours, but with endless time, they could be extended. It would also be easier to help new hikers, mentor those just starting their journey, and encourage inclusivity in outdoor spaces.

Learning New Skills on the Trail

Extra time would also mean more opportunities for learning. Every hiking trip is a chance to grow, but some skills require dedicated practice. Without sleep, I’d dive deeper into:

• Wilderness survival skills: Building shelters, foraging, and learning advanced navigation techniques.

• Flora and fauna identification: Taking the time to understand the ecosystems I’m walking through.

• Backcountry cooking: Experimenting with new recipes and techniques to make trail meals more exciting.

These skills not only enhance the hiking experience but also deepen the connection to the natural world.

Exploring More Than Hiking

While hiking would remain the focus, a life without sleep could allow time for complementary pursuits that enrich the hiking experience. For example, I’d take up activities like kayaking, climbing, or even paragliding—finding new ways to experience the outdoors from different perspectives.

With the time to master these additional skills, the adventures would only expand. Hiking could become the core of a lifestyle that incorporates all kinds of outdoor exploration.

Preserving the Natural World

One of the biggest challenges facing the outdoor community is balancing our love of the wild with the responsibility to protect it. With extra time, I’d devote more energy to conservation efforts. Whether it’s participating in clean-up projects, advocating for sustainable practices, or working with organizations to protect public lands, the hours gained from a sleep-free life could have a meaningful impact.

Reflecting on the Meaning of Time

Ultimately, a life without sleep invites reflection on how we spend our time. As hikers, we often say, “It’s about the journey, not the destination.” The absence of sleep wouldn’t just be about doing more—it’d be about experiencing life more fully.

From the stillness of a forest at midnight to the exhilaration of a sunrise summit, the extra hours would be a gift, reminding me why I fell in love with hiking in the first place: the chance to connect with the world, challenge myself, and find beauty in every moment.

Final Thoughts

If I didn’t need sleep, my life as a hiker would transform in countless ways. The trails would stretch longer, the nights would grow brighter, and the possibilities for exploration would be endless. While we may not have the luxury of skipping sleep, this thought experiment reminds us of the value of time—and the importance of using it to pursue what we love most.

For me, that will always be the trails.

What about you? If you didn’t need sleep, how would you spend your extra time? Let me know in the comments.

Night Watch: Book One

The Night Watch series tells the story of the Others, an ancient race of magicians, shape-shifters, vampires, and other supernatural beings that live among us, and swear allegiance to either the powers of Darkness or the forces of Light. For the past 1000 years, the two sides have been locked in an uneasy truce, keeping their powers in balance as each side secretly plots to take the advantage for themselves. The forces of the Light tasked with keeping the Dark Others in check are the Night Watch..

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