4

Comments

There are psychological theories on the importance of sleep, what happens when we sleep, why some of us can’t sleep, sleep disorders, dreaming and the different stages of sleep. By why is sleep so important?

Cracking the Sleep Code

The best way to decipher the sleep code is to study what happens to us when we’re sleep deprived. The amount of sleep a person can deal with before it effects overall functioning is based on individual needs. Some people can function having only two or three hours of sleep while another person wouldn’t be able to stay awake with less than eight.

Either way, some researchers believe that (a) long periods of wakefulness will produce physiological and behavioral disturbances; (b) these disturbances will grow worse as the period of deprivation continues; and (c) that after the period of deprivation ends, a lot of missed sleep will be regained. Other researchers feel we’ve been evolved to respond to the dark-light cycles of days where we get sleepy when it’s dark outside and wake-up when it’s light. That’s why some of us can’t have a nap during the day to save our lives!

What about the kind of sleep we’re getting? Two different people may both be getting the required eight hours of sleep but one person will get a solid, deep uninterrupted sleep while the other wakes up several times and never reaches that deep REM level of sleep. Who do you think feels more rested in the morning?

Simple Solutions for Restful Nights

Now that we know what not sleeping can do to us, how do we help ourselves get more of those all-important ZZZ’s? Here are a few suggestions:

Don’t drink excessively. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the body down. The sleep you get after having too much to drink is your brain’s way of recovering from the alcohol. If you want healthy Z’s, watch the amount of alcohol you consume.

Say no to drugs. Drugs containing stimulants should be avoided when trying to get more sleep. This doesn’t mean you need to be on a party drug like cocaine to absorb stimulants. There are a lot of over-the-counter pain relievers or cold medicines containing stimulants. So read your labels and try not to take stimulating medicines before you hit the pillows.

Get rid of useless stress. We all know troublesome thoughts or stressful times rob us of good sleep. If something is bothering you so much it’s keeping you up, either find a proactive way to cope with it while you’re awake or get it out of your life.

Deal with sleep disorders. Loved ones telling you that you snore? Do you sleep walk? Do you experience apnea or restless leg syndrome? Get help immediately. Your physician can most likely direct you to a good sleep specialist who can help you ease those nightly irritations. And the rest of your family and/or partner will thank you.

Cope with shift work. Some of us aren’t fortunate enough to have a nine to five daytime job. Those of us who work nights or shift work can have really messed up sleeping schedules. Psychologists will tell you to ask for several days in a row where you work days, and then several where you work nights. That way your body will have time to get used to the time swap and you’ll still be able to get some sleep. Night workers sometimes have it easier than shift workers; they may be the opposite of the norm but at least they have an actual sleep schedule.

Take a nap. Cats have the right idea. If you’re tired during the day, allow yourself that indulgence. A half hour snooze can be enough to recharge your batteries enough to get through the rest of your work. Even Einstein napped. He didn’t do the predictable eight hours, instead taking several naps throughout the day or night whenever he felt tired.

Create a sleep-friendly environment. Create a sleep routine to coax the body to slumber. Your mattress should be the right size and firmness, the room should be cool and dark, and your bed clothes nice and comfy. Any habits you have to get ready, such as a bubble bath, glass of warm milk, reading or listening to soft music are great too.

Sleep is vital to our overall functionality, so if you find yourself having trouble staying awake during the day, take inventory of what’s going on at night. Life is too much fun to enjoy with sleep in your eyes.

[Photo by ||!prliignore3||]