Importance of sleep
The quality of sleep at night directly affects your health. Without enough sleep, you won't be able to perform at your true potential. Some facts about sleep include:
• Losing even one hour of sleep can affect your daytime functioning
• Your body takes a while to adjust to different sleep schedule
• Both the quantity and quality of sleep is important
• You cannot completely make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping more on the weekends
Sleep needs
There is a difference between the amount of sleep you can get by on and the amount you need to function optimally. Sleep requirements vary for each person, but most healthy adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. Children and teens need more. Despite the idea that sleep needs decrease with age, most older people still need at least 7 hours of sleep.
If you sleep enough, you will feel energetic and alert all day.
Signs you are not getting enough sleep
You may be sleep-deprived if you:
• Need an alarm to wake up on time
• Rely on the snooze button
• Have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning
• Feel sluggish in the afternoon
• Get sleepy in meetings/ lectures
• Get drowsy after heavy meals/ when driving
• Need a nap to get through the day
• Fall asleep while relaxing
• Feel the need to sleep in on the weekends
• Fall asleep within 5 minutes of going to bed
Getting the sleep you need
Some tips that might work for you:
• Rule out medical causes for your sleep problems
• Stick to a regular sleep schedule
• Get regular exrecise
• Be smart about what you eat and drink
• Get help with stress management
• Improve your sleep environment
• Develop a relaxing bedtime routine
• Postpone worrying