Sleep and water, sleep and water. Anytime you venture into the world of health you get these two pushed into your face often back to back. It gets tiring hearing about the same things over and over again…well, too bad. The reason sleep and water are constantly studied and harped over is because they are VITAL to health and wellbeing. If you are dehydrated you’re neither happy nor healthy. If you’re sleep deprived, you’re neither sane nor healthy.
It’s a shame that sleeping is often sacrificed for work and play in today’s alarm clock world. It’s a shame because sleeping is so much fun! It feels great to fall asleep after a hard days work and it feels even better to wake up and feel raring to go as opposed to having to drag yourself out of bed after the twelfth time you’ve hit snooze. I much rather bound into the shower than have to pour myself into it.
It’s common to hear that you need eight hours of sleep a day. It’s common because this is the typical amount an active adult needs. That being said you should know by now that averages are just that: averages. If you are one of those people who is actually fine after four hours of sleep well then one) I am so jealous and two) don’t try to force yourself to sleep the entire eight. The important thing here is to know how much sleep you need to function without pain.
the final part of this article will follow
Part 2
When I say without pain I mean just that. It has been proven that not getting enough sleep can impair many of the functions of the human body. What’s most scary about this is that it can actually CAUSE pain. Headaches, backaches, even stomachs have been connected to lack of sleep, so if you’re experiencing any unexplained pain (especially when you first wake up) maybe you’re not getting enough Z’s.
In addition to good, old fashioned pain sleep deprivation has been found to affect ones ability to retain information and recall details. It has been found to drastically slow the metabolism, thus causing a certain amount of weight gain.
It’s even been connected to safety issues, as individuals who are suffering from lack of proper rest are more likely to fall asleep on the job or behind the wheel. If you work somewhere dangerous like in a mill or as an airplane pilot lack of sleep is not only unhealthy it’s darn right irresponsible!
Not at all to mention the fact that lack of sleep can affect your mood. People who don’t get enough sleep have been found to be more prone to snapping, they shift more often between emotions, and they may lack the ability to focus. We all know someone who is an absolute beast if woken prematurely, when you think about it, are you the same way?
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