Taking place each March Sleep Awareness Week is dedicated to improving health and  quality of life by promoting the importance of sleep. Everyone knows that sleep is essential to everyday function, but because of our daily routines, habits, and lifestyle, most people don’t actually get the amount of sleep they need. Many adults work long hours and the youth are becoming more connected to their devices and social media. These are just some of the reasons why there is a growing issue of sleep deprivation in our society.Â
The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) takes initiative to combat poor sleep quality by educating people on the benefits of good sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation. This year they have declared March 12 to 18 as Sleep Awareness Week. They chose these dates for this sleep education campaign since it will coincide with the start of Daylight Saving Time in the US. Their goal is to push people to prioritize their well-being through good quality sleep during Sleep Awareness Week.Â
Circadian Rhythm and Our Body
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day and even more for younger people. These are just averages, in reality, people may require different amounts of sleep depending on the individual. Getting enough rest every day is an integral part of keeping your circadian rhythm functioning well.
Circadian rhythms are the changes in your body’s physical, mental, and behavioral states throughout the day. Our bodies have adapted to function in specific ways within a 24-hour cycle. Our Circadian rhythm is what helps us get up at a certain time in the Morning, keeps us active, and signals our brain when it’s time to go to bed at night. There are even foods that promote sleep which can maintain a healthy Circadian rhythm.
Benefits of Good Sleep
The importance of sleep cannot be emphasized enough, especially with the kind of society we live in today. Here’s a round-up of tips for getting a good night’s sleep.
We know that good sleep can benefit our health, but you may be surprised just how much effect it has on our mental state, physical well-being, and our long and short-term functionality.
High quality rest boosts focus and productivity. Studies have shown that focus and productivity begin to drop after 30 minutes of doing a task. The longer and harder you work, the more rest you will need to get to peak productivity. Getting enough sleep and even taking power naps during the day can greatly improve your performance in any activity.
Many people have trouble sleeping and even try to force themselves to sleep. Luckily there are many tips and remedies for poor sleep quality. It is best to try out different methods to achieve good sleep to see which works best for you.
Poor Sleep Quality and Its Negative Effects
There are many problems that can arise from poor sleep quality which can negatively affect different aspects of our lives. As you may know, the lack of sleep can leave us feeling sluggish for a whole day and can even worsen our mood. This can affect how we interact with people at work within our social circles. It is clear that poor sleep quality has a cascading effect that can potentially hurt different parts of our lives.
As we mentioned before, our Circadian rhythm regulates our body’s functions in a day. Being in a sleep deprived state can severely hamper our ability to function properly. which can make doing everyday tasks increasingly challenging. Insomnia, restlessness, and the inability to fall asleep are some outcomes of an out-of-whack Circadian rhythm.
As time without sleep goes on, people will start to lose much of their cognitive function. The ability to remember things in the short term becomes much more difficult, let alone recalling things long-term. This can be especially grueling for students trying to study and learn. It is crucial to have adequate rest to absorb information easily and more effectively.
