Why is Sleeping Important?

Why Is Sleeping Important?

17th Jan 2021

What happens when we sleep? Why is sleeping so extra-ordinarily important?

Sleeping is a basic human need and it is as crucial as eating and breathing. Sleep plays a vital role in our physical and emotional well-being. What happens when we’re awake, our thoughts and activities depend a lot on what happens when we sleep.

Our body has an internal clock set at 24-hour repeating rhythm (also called as circadian rhythm) which operates much like the day and night cycle. This clock is synced to external cues, such as reception of light and darkness, and controls the release of various chemicals inside the body. This regulation is majorly through a chemical called melatonin, whose levels determine when we feel asleep (and is also used as a medicine to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia).

What happens inside our brain when we sleep?

When we sleep, our brain undergoes rest that is required to reset itself and prepare for the next day. There is a shift in wavelength when you sleep and this signals your brain to slow down and focus on the recovery process. It is now well established that for adults, an average sleep of 7-8 hours per night is important and enough (as recommended by American Academy of Sleep Medicine). Anything below 6 hours have harmful effects on our health.

There are numerous research studies carried out to associate poor quality of sleep with poor physical and mental health. Just consecutive five days of insufficient sleep (equivalent to one work week) can have deleterious effects and lead to hormonal imbalance and over-eating. Imagine piling up of insufficient sleep, what is also referred to as sleep debt, over months and years. Without consciously realizing, sleep deprivation directly affects our performance. It impairs our attention, working memory, alertness, as well as decision-making abilities.

Three meals plus bedtime make four sure blessings each day

Mason Cooley

So how do you know that you are getting insufficient sleep?

Your body screams out loud when it is sleep deprived or is on disturbed sleep. Listen to it. Having difficulty in paying attention, frequently day dreaming, feeling drowsy all day but wide awake when you hit the bed, waking up feeling tired, taking multiple naps in a day, feeling exhausted without doing much work, sleeping for long extra hours on days off, and forgetfulness. Are all signs.

We all experience these symptoms at some point in our lives and we complain about it to people close to us. Yet, we fail to work on our sleep patterns. One easy way to get around this problem is to maintain a small sleep journal. You can simply make an entry of how many hours you slept the previous night and rate your overall performance and mood in the day. Very soon you will be able to make an association between good night sleep and having a good day.

Try to work on your sleep and see how it improves your day. Although, if you feel your sleep pattern is staying disturbed even after working on it, do consider seeking professional help.

– Sanketa Raut

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