I need a nap. Well, not really. But if you’re like me, you feel like you could always use a good rest. Gimme a quick 15-minute power nap or an hour to pass out; I’m happy either way. Granted, I’m usually at least a little upset afterward because, let’s face it, there’s always something that needs to get done, and nodding off doesn’t exactly give us more time to get things done. But sheesh, few things feel as good as taking it down for a few (or many) moments of sweet slumber after you’ve been hustling, running errands, and just life-ing in general.
Kids… to keep it simple, let’s just say they’re the opposite. Kinda an understatement if you ask me. Sometimes just seeing children playing together and immersed in their activity makes me want to nap! It sometimes feels like they’re absolutely bursting with energy. Each one has too much for one person if you ask me. In fact, if we could find a way to bottle all that extra energy, maybe we, older folks, wouldn’t be so tired all the time!
Jokes aside, sleep is super important for everyone, and studies are continuously being released showing just how important it is. According to an article released by sleepfoundation.org earlier this year, about 35.2% of adults get less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep per night. Also of interest is that a whopping 42.6% of single parents report receiving less than 7 hours of sleep per night (compared to 32.7% for two-parent homes and 31% of adults without children). Regarding sleep statistics for children, the amounts of time vary depending on the child’s age group (younger age groups need more sleep). Children are recommended to get 9-13 hours of sleep per night. Babies need even more sleep, up to 17 hours per night.
… about 35.2% of adults get less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep per night.
It’s usually easier to ensure children get the sleep they need by making them stick to bedtimes. Still, as adults, we often assume that whatever we have on our to-do list for the day is more important than getting an additional hour or two of rest. It can be hard to argue that this is not the case; we all know there are work and/ or family pressures and responsibilities that are priorities and need to be addressed promptly. Some things can’t be put off until later, and unfortunately, our rest-time takes the hit a lot of the time. However, the fact remains that sleep is vitally essential for us all, and whether you are an adult or a child, rest is significant to some pretty big life processes. We should all pay special attention to getting the proper amount of quality sleep every night.
1. Growth, repair, and maintenance
We always tell our kids that it’s essential to get enough sleep to grow up big and strong, and even in 2022, this is still the case. But children are not the only ones to benefit from this. Muscle growth hormones are released by the body during deep sleep, and adults (especially athletes) can also take advantage of this by ensuring they get enough sleep each night. We put our bodies through a lot during any given day, and our sleep time every night is also the time that our bodies use to repair the damage of day-to-day living. People that work out or have physically demanding work can benefit immensely from getting adequate sleep, as their bodies will have the necessary time to repair the damage to their muscle fibers.
Sleep is also crucial in helping us stay healthy and prevent certain illnesses. Getting enough sleep has been shown to decrease the chances of developing severe health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, etc. Diet and exercise are additional factors that influence whether we develop these conditions, but sleep is one thing that can’t be ignored when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
2. Learning
In athletes, getting the proper amount of quality sleep is shown to increase reaction time and accuracy
It’s fairly common knowledge that we are at our best cognitively when we get enough rest each night because sleep is an integral part of ensuring our minds are optimized to learn and form memories. Sleep deprivation over a long period of time has also been shown to lead to cognitive decline. There are also conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease that are exacerbated by inconsistent or inadequate sleep. The symptoms of these conditions are generally relieved when sleep habits are optimized. In athletes, getting the proper amount of quality sleep is shown to increase reaction time and accuracy, and not getting enough rest has a correlated adverse effect. Sleep may not feel like it, but it’s one of the most important contributors to a healthy mind, and we can drastically improve our cognitive health just by ensuring we get enough good sleep.
3. Balance
Sleep is a big part of maintaining a healthy biological rhythm. There are a ton of pattern processes that take place in the body that are severely disrupted when we don’t get the right amount of sleep or when we don’t get a good quality of rest. It’s important that we get the suggested amount of rest on a consistent basis because it helps our bodies keep our internal clocks and rhythms in check. Naps are great and can be very helpful. But getting the right amount of continuous sleep is vital for getting into the deeper sleep cycles that are only reached once we’ve slept for a certain amount of time. (for example, the REM sleep cycle or Rapid Eye Movement cycle is essential, but it’s a later cycle that is only reached after multiple hours of sleeping). We can become irritable and emotionally off-center if we do not regularly receive adequate rest from deep, consistent sleep.
… getting the right amount of continuous sleep is vital…
It’s funny; everyone knows that the older you get, the more you value sleep, and usually, the less of it you can actually have! Life happens all day, every day, non-stop. There’s nothing we can do about that part. It seems to be a given that with all the things we have going on at any moment, it feels necessary to just push through and sacrifice rest in the name of productivity. Surely missing an hour of sleep here or there is acceptable if it means conquering the day’s mountain of tasks, right? You’ll have to make the final decision yourself but taking a beat and getting the suggested amount of rest may be the more innovative route in the long run. We can be healthier, happier, less stressed versions of ourselves if we can make it a point to get quality rest each night.