What are the best practices for managing server load and response times when implementing delays in PHP code?

When implementing delays in PHP code, it's important to manage server load and response times to ensure optimal performance. One way to achieve this is by using sleep() function to introduce delays in the code without impacting the overall performance of the server. It's crucial to use delays judiciously and only when necessary to prevent unnecessary strain on the server.

// Example of implementing a delay in PHP code
$delay = 2; // Delay in seconds
sleep($delay);

// Your PHP code here