Most of us are aware that sleep is not only important in revitalizing us mentally, but is critical to our physical health as well. Which is why a recent survey (titled ‘Sleep In America’) carried out by the ‘National Sleep Foundation’ may leave you amazed.
The annual poll estimates Americans get, on average, just 6.7 hours of sleep per night during weekdays. Also, over the last 10 years, an increasing amount of us are getting under 6 hours sleep a night. Those who get 8 (or more) hours per night is decreasing as well.
Living in this hyper busy, open all hours world, it’s hardly surprising that we sleep about an hour and a half less a night than our grandparents did just over a century ago.
There are plenty of distractions and forms of entertainment that no generation have had before. So, it’s not hard to see why sleep has moved down our priority list. The ready accessibility of the internet, cell phones and other devices make it possible to be connected to the world at all hours, and to do things at any time, anywhere.
In another survey, the American Psychological Association, reported that just over half of 7,000 people interviewed lost sleep at night as a result of stress.
Of course not getting enough sleep results in the majority of us experiencing irritability and fatigue, as well as burdening us with poor performance at work, lackluster thought processes and less than perfect decision making.
Most people can improve the quality of their sleep thoughby getting into a a regular sleeping pattern. Go to bed and get up at a similar time every day- this also applies to days off, holidays and vacations.
It’s important to ensure that the place where you sleep is relaxing, peacful and at a comfortable, constant temperature. Do these things and you’ve a better chance of achieving the recommended 8 hours of sleep that you require.
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