In many science fiction stories, the future of sleep is cozy and idyllic — an elevated state living within a dream world. The message is urgent: Slow down, don’t work too much, and don’t use tech shortcuts to catch up on sleep. While the threat of human-sized sleep monsters may not seem literal, the analogy to everyone’s own sleep patterns, relative to our work schedules, is damning. If anything, people should prioritize sleep and spending cash on things that help you sleep is often money well spent. The key difference between a dystopic sci-fi sleep future and casual sleep consumerism hinges on the moment when the person stops thinking of their own sleep as something they can control.