Is Sleep all it is Cracked up to be?
Last night as I crawled up the stairs to bed, I wondered if sleep is what you need, my sleep deprived mind screamed or rather moaned,YES!
Sleep, Do you need Seven to Nine hours?
Is seven to nine hours of sleep all you need? Go to bed, not too late, don’t set an alarm clock, what time did you wake up. Do you feel rested? Compare the time you slept to what you normally have. Some people will find that eight hours is too much, they feel groggy all day, others don’t feel rested until they have at least nine hours.
Whatever you do, do not push the snooze button, the snooze button is the enemy. I recommend using “The Five Second Rule”, when the alarm rings,countdown, five, four, three, two, one, Blast-off! Check out Mel Robbins book, The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage. The snooze button was where that concept started. There is no going back to dreamland just to be woken up ten minutes later, no arguing with yourself to get up.
Just like most things, it isn’t quantity but quality of sleep that makes a difference. Nine hours of restless sleep isn’t as good as seven hours of quality time.
The Body Needs Sleep
If your body needs sleep,you will not be as fit as you could be. Lets look at examples:
- You will possibly gain weight by eating more calories. Your body will produce more of a appetite stimulating hormone called ghrelin and less of leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite with a lack of snoozetime.
- When you get plenty of shuteye you can become a better, faster, more focused athlete experiencing fewer falls.
- Heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes are less likely to happen with more sleep, your body produces proteins that repair the body.
- More may improve your immune system which equals less colds and flu and shorten incidents of inflammation in the body.
The Brain Needs Sleep
If your brain needs sleep, you will not be as alert as you could be because:
- A good night’s rest decreases your chance of depression.
- With a good night’s rest you may become less irritable.
- A good night’s rest improves concentration and performance, your brain performs housekeeping roles when asleep, you become more alert and your memory improves.
Lack of it can cause what is known as micro-sleep. When a person who isn’t getting enough they may suddenly nod off for a half second or up to ten seconds. It is your brain taking a forced nap. It is especially dangerous for a tired person to drive a vehicle. Nodding off for even half a second can have fatal consequences.