Why Is Sleep So Good?

Summary

The provided text discusses the importance of sleep, its physiological benefits, the consequences of sleep deprivation, and strategies for improving sleep quality, framed around the author's personal interest sparked by Matthew Walker's book "Why We Sleep."

Abstract

The article "Why Is Sleep So Good?" delves into the critical role of sleep in human health and well-being, emphasizing that despite its necessity, many people willingly deprive themselves of it. Drawing from insights in Matthew Walker's book, the author explores the evolution of sleep patterns and presents alarming statistics on average sleep duration as recorded by Fitbit users, which falls short of the CDC's recommended 7 hours. The text outlines the essential processes that occur during sleep, such as cell regeneration and memory consolidation, and underscores the importance of REM sleep for dreaming and mood regulation. Recognizing the challenges of modern life, the author suggests practical tips for better sleep hygiene, including reducing screen time and taking warm showers before bed, as well as the benefits of early morning light exposure for improved alertness and mental health. The article concludes with a personal note from the author about their commitment to the 100-day writing challenge and an invitation for readers to join their journey.

Opinions

The author believes that sleep deprivation is a uniquely human behavior, often driven by societal pressures and a lack of understanding about sleep's importance.
They express the view that the way humans sleep has changed significantly over time, potentially due to evolution and lifestyle changes.
The author suggests that many individuals are not getting enough sleep, as evidenced by Fitbit data, and that this is detrimental to health.
They hold the opinion that a nighttime routine is as important as a morning routine for overall well-being.
The author advocates for the

Illumination 100 Day Writing Challenge: Day 12

Humans sleep for around a third of their lifetime. We know it is critical to our survival yet so many avoid it. I first became interested in the science of sleep and the importance of it when reading Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. The book covers everything from the science of dreaming to fundamentals you can apply to get better sleep. There was one line in the book that really (ironically) opened my eyes.

Sadly, human beings are in fact the only species that will deliberately deprive themselves of sleep without legitimate gain.

Why do we do this? Is it the pressure of modern society and hustle culture? Or is it that we simply don’t fully understand sleep? It is fair to say that the way we sleep has drastically changed over the course of our evolution as a species.

Sleep Facts

According to Fitbit, the average time asleep of its users is 6 hours and 38 minutes. This is lower than the recommended 7 hours from the CDC. Sleeping less than 5 hours deprives the body of deep sleep — needed for processes such as cell regeneration and human growth hormone secretion.

If you wake up earlier than usual, you miss out on the stage called Rapid Eye Movement (REM). This is responsible for short-term memory, cell regeneration and mood. You also dream during this phase of sleep. This is where the weird dreams happen.

Sleep is when recovery happens. If you’re an athlete, or moderately interested in fitness, this is the time where your body repairs itself. Better sleep means quicker recovery.

How To Get Better Sleep

Most of us probably have a set morning routine but do we have a nighttime routine? By getting your body ready for getting a night of good sleep, you’ll likely feel fresher the next day.

The hour before sleep is important. Reducing screen times at this point is a good start. Having a warm shower too will help lower your core body temperature making your body ready to drift off into a slumber.

Another way to improve sleep is through exposure to light early in the morning after waking up. This has been found to increase alertness. Additionally, this causes a reduction in stress and depression which can improve sleep. This is compared to those who were not able to get early morning light exposure.

It’s becoming even harder to prioritise our sleep as responsibilities stack up and the pace of life increases. Do you get enough sleep? Have you, like me, tried to improve sleep hygiene? If so, what were your results like?

I’m following the 100-day writing challenge from Dr Mehmet Yildiz of ILLUMINATION. You can find the challenge details here. Please consider following me to see my daily upload and be part of my journey.

Have a great day!