Sleep vs. Sleepy "Learning"? Rav Miller Rules

Rav Avigdor Miller זצ"ל was old-fashioned (a term I am using here in a positive sense, as a compliment) in various ways. One of them was in his representation, modeling, and advocacy of classic healthy living, such as non-materialistic lifestyles, and enjoying, appreciating, and giving thanks for things like simple food, walking, fresh air, and the like (along with deep and genuine Torah spirituality, of course). 

Rav Miller was not part of the modern coffee-guzzling, caffeine-fueled, pill-popping "frum" culture practiced by too many (with frequent harried travel often part of the mix). Rather he was far from it. He ate simply, traveled little, liked to walk, breathe fresh air, eat fruit, drink water, enjoy nature.

This occasionally comes into sharp relief in his words, as seen in an important Q & A exchange with him shared recently by Toras Avigdor:

Rav Avigdor Miller on Getting Enough Sleep

Rav Miller's words at the above linked page are very important, but there is even more that can be added to them, which I think he would agree with, for example,

1) Proper sleep is not only important for mental health, it is vital for physical, general health as well.

2) When a person is tired, lacking adequate sleep, their learning is usually quite deficient and inferior in comparison to when they are properly rested, in areas such as comprehension and retention.

It was shared by gedolim that there is an inyan of ביטול תורה באיכות, qualitative bittul Torah, meaning that if someone can learn Torah on a higher level and suffices rather with a lower one, he has not done properly (ביטול תורה - עולמות, see section ט toward bottom, in English some info here). While that expression and idea is usually invoked with regard to something like someone reciting Tehillim simply and seemingly superficially vs. learning תורה שבעל פה with deeper understanding, לענ"ד it could be applied to learning sleepy vs. learning rested too.

Modern research has shown the great importance of good sleep for mental functioning and memory. Even Harvard University, although they may be quite confused in other areas, testifies strongly to that:

Want to improve your memory? Get a good night's sleep! - Harvard Health

Sleep well, and learn better. Recharge yourself with good sleep, and resist the allure of coffee, cigarettes, and other quick "fixes", which don't do the job you need and want long-term (if even short-term).

There are people that push themselves hard to wake up early for a shiur, don't sleep enough, guzzle coffee to keep going, and then wonder why they hardly recall anything from such "learning" sessions. Is that the way to go? הקב"ה wants us to understand, enjoy, and retain our learning. Don't fool yourself. You are surely not fooling Hashem. Learn when you are properly prepared, rested, and alert, and the yields will be something to write home about.

ברכה והצלחה