1. Kill the alarm clock
Alarm clocks induce two harmful side effects: stress and sleep deprivation. It also damages your memory, ability to learn, your mood and temper, your relationships with people and your ability to focus and your overall intellectual performance. Alarm clocks shock the body into wakefullness. If you’re regularly getting enough sleep they shouldn’t be necessary.
1. Give sleep a priority by giving yourself sufficient time for sleep.
2. Provide yourself with a comfortable place to sleep.
The following is a list of stages of a healthy night’s sleep and what occurs during these stages:
Stage 1 -
Occurs in the beginning of sleep, with slow eye movements. People in this stage often believe that they are fully awake. During the transition into Stage 1 sleep, it is common to experience a hypnic jerk.
An honest self-examination will show whether you already have a healthy pattern of sleep or if you are experiencing sleep debt.
Here is a list of most common myths about sleep. Perhaps some of these are playing havoc with your sleep habits. Read on…
The following chart lists short and long term effects of sleep deprivation.
Scientists have discovered a definite link between the body’s immune system response and deep sleep. American Health reports that tiny proteins known as muramyl peptides associated with deep dream-free sleep “trigger the production of interleukin 1, a key component of the body’s defensive system.” Researcher Dr. James M. Krueger believes that “sleep may play a role in the recuperative process, whether it’s recovery from a day’s activity or a disease.”
Cutting down on sleep drasticlly affects our capacity to learn and make decisions. Habitually going to bed late and waking up early makes us less productive and prone to make more mistakes. It has a detrimental effect on our intellectual potential.
“Sleep is more important than what food we eat. It is more important than exercise. Sleep governs our hormones, our emotions and our immune system.”
Sleep is an important regenerative process of our lives. Much too often it is alarmingly underestimated. Life’s pressures (big and small) are far too easily allowed to interfere with its natural order.