‘Sleep is more important than wealth.’ What our bodies do while we sleep may impact life and learning as much as what we do while awake. Sleep is one of life’s most instinctual processes—making it also among the easiest to take for granted.

Newborn humans typically sleep 16 to 18 hours per day—empowering biological processes that allow rapid growth, learning, and development.

The physiological need for sleep gradually dwindles to about 8 hours per day for adults, but social, scholastic, and economic pressures cause most teenagers to deprive themselves of the sleep their bodies crave—and hundreds of millions of adults to unconsciously suffer from the effects of sleep deprivation.

Insufficient high-quality sleep reduces mental acuity, attention, and memory formation—and is highly correlated with depression and schizophrenia. Successful, hard-working adults are among the most likely to spend too little time asleep, making it especially important to improve habits and environments to maximise sleep quality.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE….

– DONT HIT SNOOZE
Sleep experts agree that hitting the snooze button contributes to a tired morning and doesn’t help us feel more rested.

– GET COMFORTABLE
Most people sleep best when the room temperature is slightly colder than
comfortable if exposed, but under sheets or blankets that prevent discomfort. Also make sure your bed is correct for you.

– MAKE YOUR ROOM DARKER

– LIMIT ALCOHOL INTAKE
Although alcohol can expedite the onset and extend the duration of Deep Sleep
early in the sleep cycle, this commonly-perceived benefit is offset by a reduction in REM sleep—and is further negated by an increase in disruptions later in the night.

– ELIMINATE DISRUPTIVE NOISE
Inconsistent noises can shorten the time we spend in restorative sleep.

– CUT BACK ON CAFFEINE
Caffeine does not reduce the body’s need for sleep, it only overwhelms natural
processes that help the body get the sleep it needs.