Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
Posted October 21st, 2013
If you stopped eating for a week, you certainly wouldn’t be in the best of shape. You would be very hungry, tired, grouchy (and lighter). But you would still be able to function. Now, however, think about giving up sleep for a week. The results would be a lot different.
When we find ourselves with too much work and too little time,sleep is usually one of the first things to go. We figure that by giving up a certain amount of sleep, we can spend the same amount of time on our work. What we don’t take into account, however, is the effect that loss of sleep has on our mind and body. It impacts our health, mood, learning ability, and memory.
Sleep is a lot more important than we generally assume. But how much sleep should we try to get each night? Studies have shown that just about everyone – 95 percent of us – needs seven to eight hours of sleep each night to be completely rested. Very few of us can do with less, although few of us actually get eight hours.
But, again, studies show that those who are among the best at what they do routinely get the most sleep. One study revealed that the best violinists in the world usually get more than eight hours of sleep each night and a half-hour nap during the day. These musicians said that sleep was almost as important to their performance as practice.
To improve your sleep habits, experts advise getting to bed earlier, and going to bed at the same time each night. Bedtime has to become part of your everyday routine, or else you will be up later than you should.
You should also begin to get ready for bed about 45 minutes before actually turning in. This is to give your body and mind time to wind down and relax. If you are active until just before you go to bed, it will take you longer to relax. During this time, you should do something to relax yourself, such as having a warm drink, listening to some relaxing music, or reading.
Another good practice to help you sleep is to write down the things you need to do the next day. This way, they won’t be on your mind as you try to sleep.
If you’re a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area and are looking for work in the IT sector, send your resume to Bayside Solutions. We look forward to hearing from you.
