For some very odd, very short-sighted, very illogical reason, we live in a generation that puts so little value of sleep. “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” has been a common adage for years. But nowadays your social media timelines are filled with memes and quotes that argue that sleep is nothing short of a waste of time. And in an age where more and more people have the education, drive, and access to really make an impact, putting that kind of rhetoric out into the world is criminally wrong!
MEMORY
During sleep you can strengthen memories or “practice” skills learned while you were awake (it’s a process called consolidation). So, if you’re trying to learn something new—whether it’s Spanish or a new tennis swing—you’ll perform better after sleeping.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
A 2010 study found that C-reactive protein, which is associated with heart attack risk, was higher in people who got six or fewer hours of sleep a night. People who have sleep apnea or insomnia can have an improvement in blood pressure and inflammation with treatment of the sleep disorders.
CREATIVITY
Researchers at Harvard University and Boston College found that people seem to strengthen the emotional components of a memory during sleep, which may help spur the creative process.
ATHLETICISM
A Stanford University study found that college football players who tried to sleep at least 10 hours a night for seven to eight weeks improved their average sprint time and had less daytime fatigue and more stamina. The results of this study reflect previous findings seen in tennis players and swimmers.
HYPERACTIVITY
Kids don’t react the same way to sleep deprivation as adults do. Whereas adults get sleepy, kids tend to get hyperactive. So before you go diagnosing your kid as having ADHD, you might want to prescribe some ZZZs.
MANAGING WEIGHT
Sleep and metabolism are controlled by the same sectors of the brain. When you are sleepy, certain hormones go up in your blood, and those same hormones drive appetite.
SAFER DRIVING
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 2009 that being tired accounted for the highest number of fatal single-car run-off-the-road crashes due to the driver’s performance. Insufficient sleep for just one night can be as detrimental to your driving ability as having an alcoholic drink.
Now be honest, how much sleep do you get? And do you find that foregoing sleep has made you more successful? We’d love to hear your comments.
