Ask any kid which rule they like least, and bedtime will probably crop up. Yet anyone who has regular interaction with children knows the importance of regular bedtime and getting enough sleep–particularly those sleep-deprived kids who act grumpy and look exhausted all day. As adults, we figure we don’t have to adhere to a bedtime the same way as kids do… but science and studies bear out the idea we should stick to a regular sleep schedule to get the most out of each day.
- Regular sleep helps you feel better, in general. If you tend to have sleep problems, attempting a consistent sleeping and waking time will help you lessen the stress of both (How many times have you slapped that snooze button, only to leap out of bed and rush through the morning?). Think of your body as a finely tune machine: It has sleep regulation systems that balance between sleeping and waking; regular bedtimes and wake times help avoid both oversleeping and sleep deprivation.
- Recognize its importance in your daily life. Of course, we all have things going on in our lives that keep us awake; sometimes work, stress, a great book or a sick kid will keep us up until the wee hours. Fortunately, setting a regular sleep and wake pattern–and sticking to it as much as possible–can help on those nights when we just don’t get our 6-8 hours in. The bottom line? Make a schedule for sleep just as you would anything else, and include giving yourself about half an hour to wind down and relax before turning out the lights. Doing all of this will allow your body to make repairs during deeper periods of sleep and get you ready to face the day.
- Good sleep = good health. Irregular sleep patterns can lead to all sorts of health risks from poor cholesterol to increased weight to greater insulin resistance. And as we all know, sleep debt or sleep deprivation over an extended period can cause us to make grave errors because we simply aren’t functioning at our full levels. Our circadian rhythms, which naturally regulate our sleeping, release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to help us wake up gently, rather than in a flood as the alarm blares. Proper sleep can also improve memory, curb inflammation (which is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and arthritis) and sharpen attention.
See what you can do to set a regular sleep schedule for yourself; your quality of life will improve and your body will thank you (as will your co-workers in the morning). Read our related health and wellness content and reach out to our local medical staffing professionals today!
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