Finding an antidote to our global sleep crisis
Earlier this week the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) released a statement urging Americans to prioritize sleep. New research shows that almost 30% of Americans are sleeping less than 6 hours per night on a regular basis. All that cheating on sleep is leading to a smorgasbord of preventable health issues like depression, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke. What’s more, sleep is responsible for thousands of traffic fatalities yearly, not to mention needless household and work-related injuries.
On a normal day, your body is like a Target department store on Black Friday. A steady stream of information hits your brain while your body processes a complicated choreography of bodily functions that keep you alive. And this is just when you’re sitting quietly – imagine the onslaught when you’re under stress or physically active.
Sleep is the clean-up crew, working hard through the night to restock the shelves and clear away debris from the day. When you don’t get enough sleep, you start the next day with a disheveled brain and a bunch of organs that haven’t been cleaned properly. And that’s when accidents start to happen.
If a good night’s sleep is a fond but distant memory, it’s time to put this pandemic to bed. To help, we’ve found some expert sources that will point you in the direction of dreamy, healing sleep. Bet you feel better already, don’t you?
10 ways to get more sleep tonight
What’s keeping so many people up at night? We have too much to do and not enough time to do it, and instead of respecting the boundaries of our rest time, we take precious minutes (and even hours) from our sleep to worry about what didn’t get done. If you’re stuck counting sheep, unable to fall asleep, try these healthy remedies from BusinessInsider.
The mathematics of a good night’s sleep
The mysteries of sleep are more than just a source of passing wonder. Biologists, behavioral scientists, neuroscientists and even mattress makers have, for years, been studying the mysteries of sleep and wakefulness and sleep disorders. But more recently, researchers have recognized that another necessary discipline that should be included in collaborative approaches to sleep-related issues is good ol’ fashioned mathematics.
Self-shiatsu to help you sleep better
A recent study suggests shiatsu massage could work as a non-pharmacologic sleep aid, particularly for those with insomnia derived from chronic pain. Whereas popping a pill and waiting for results is a passive way to treat pain and insomnia, learning the techniques and administering shiatsu occupies the mind.
A handy guide to sleep disorders
It may come as no surprise that there are now more than 80 recognized sleep disorders. Yikes! From sexomnia (where people engage in sexual activity while asleep) to sleep paralysis (where people are temporarily unable to move) here are some weird and wonderful sleep disorders from HuffPost
5 things to do before bed
To maximize your time and efficiency, here are five essential and easy things you should do before bed that will make help transform your waking hours into super productivity.
