(ThyBlackMan.com) Life moves at a fast pace. Various areas of responsibility can find us looking for more hours in the day. Many of us find extra hours by cutting into our sleep time. You may have heard the saying “Sleep is the cousin of death”, or “you can sleep when you’re dead”. What you don’t realize is taking this approach could shorten your life span as adequate rest is essential to life, and getting the body to function properly. “Many things that we take for granted are affected by sleep, says Raymonde Jean, MD, director of sleep medicine and associate director of critical care at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. If you sleep better, you can certainly live better. It’s pretty clear.”
Many of us acknowledge that children must get more sleep, so there is no fuss when a child needs a nap. As a matter of fact, parents tend to know their child needs that nap when they begin to behave in a restless manner. They become irritable, and in some cases, won’t even want to eat…they just need to sleep. This is also the case for
adults. It is not weird nor uncommon to see people catch a power nap on their lunch breaks. The brain can be overworked, and need a re-boot. You will find that lacking rest can make you as irritable as it would a child, and you may tend to forget a few things.
Furthermore, learning requires we rest. More information can be retained, and remember if we would get adequate sleep. “If you are trying to learn something, whether it’s physical or mental, you learn it to a certain point with practice,” says Dr. Rapoport, who is an associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. “But something happens while you sleep that makes you learn it better.” In other words, if you’re trying to learn something new—whether it’s Spanish or a new tennis swing—you’ll perform better after sleeping.”
It is generally understood that going to the gym to workout can increase energy, stamina, and have a positive effect on one’s mood. One should not try to work out while needing sleep. Not only is this dangerous, but you won’t get the full benefit of the workout. Furthermore, being rested will also increase your energy and stamina causing you to get more out of physical activity. This is extremely helpful if you play a sport. “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.”
Sleep may seem like an inconvenience but it is mandatory if you want optimum productivity from your mind and body. “”Sleep used to be kind of ignored, like parking our car in a garage and picking it up in the morning, says David Rapoport, MD, director of the NYU Sleep Disorders Program.” When we are sick we are often advised to rest…during the rest period the body has a change to restore its strength. You can have a clean diet and work out regularly, but if you are not getting enough sleep it is only a matter of time before the body reflect this deficiency. Be proactive and get rest.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
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