Sleep habits are more important than you know
Our sleep patterns are as unique as our fingerprints – no two are exactly identical. Some of us are nighthawks while others are early birds – and a whole bunch fall somewhere in between. From there, our sleep habits diverge even further. Some of us sleep with socks on while others chase our dreams in the buff. Some of us rock and roll all night long and others hardly move.
How you sleep says a lot about you, your health and the way you live your life. Some habits are simply quirky – but some can be life threatening if left untreated. If you’ve ever wondered what your sleep habits say about you, check out some of the resources we’ve found for you this week.
Do you dream in color?
For centuries, however, people have looked at their dreams as both omens and insights into their own psyches. Many think dreams are full of symbolic messages that may not be clear to us on the surface. But, if we dig deeper and think about what is going on in our lives, we can usually come up with an interpretation that makes sense. Read more on HowStuffWorks.
Do you snore?
Occasional snoring is usually not very serious and is mostly a nuisance for your bed partner. However, if you are a habitual snorer, you not only disrupt the sleep patterns of those close to you, but you also impair your own sleep quality. Medical assistance is often needed for habitual snorers (and their loved ones) to get a good night’s sleep. Read more on WebMD.
Do you skimp on your sleep?
Do you regularly shortchange your sleep? If you’re a contestant in the worst night’s sleep competition, feel free to steal these cheats to set up for success. Use all of them and you may even achieve super-elite non-sleeper status.
Do you sleep naked?
When you don’t have to worry about sleeping in clothes, things start to get easier. You don’t have to buy pajamas, which can save you money. You have less clothes to wash and less clothes to put away. Read more on LifeHack.
Do you sleepwalk?
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that causes people to get up and walk while sleeping. Episodes of sleepwalking typically occur when a person is in the deep stages of sleep. The sleepwalker is unable to respond during the event and does not remember sleepwalking. In some cases, sleepwalking is associated with incoherent talking.
Do you have sleep apnea?
The Greek word “apnea” literally means “without breath.” Sleep apnea is an involuntary cessation of breathing that occurs while the patient is asleep. In most cases the sleeper is unaware of these breath stoppages because they don’t trigger a full awakening. Left untreated, sleep apnea can have serious and life-shortening consequences: high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel, diabetes, depression, and other ailments. Read more at SleepApnea.
Do you enjoy napping?
Studies show that when people are put into an environment that lacks any indication of time, they naturally fall into the biphasic (one large rest with a smaller subsequent rest) sleep pattern. A good night’s sleep is still essential to our health, but a short nap during the day can do a lot to benefit our health and our lives – much better than a cup of espresso or an energy drink.
