The value of sleep...get your eight hours!

Today is a beautiful day. I'm sitting here at 630 in the morning, enjoying my breakfast, feeling terrific after a restful eight hours of sleep. How many of you can boast of getting eight hours of sleep every night? Well, if you can't...you should.

First, I'd like to dis-spell the notion that some people just don't need eight hours. Everyone needs somewhere between eight and nine hours of sleep every night in order to function their best during the day. Although some people are able to function on less sleep, and others claim they function better on less sleep, the truth is that everyone functions best when they consistently spend eight hours in bed.

The benefits of a proper sleep cycle include optimum hormone regulation, increased metabolic response (the rate at which your body uses energy), enhanced alertness, a general feeling of wellness, and many others.

The United States is exhausted. We spend more time working, and less time resting than many other industrialized nations. While this may lead to economic booms, and a better financial status, it actually lowers quality of life. So many of us plod through 12 hour work days, only to come home and face other commitments that prevent us from getting to bed when we should.

The effects of sleep deprivation are many. First, those who sleep too little tend to have increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a key factor in weight gain. Too much cortisol and your body won't burn fat. Also, sleep deprivation can lead to mental exhaustion during the day. This exhaustion affects how you operate at work, how your deal with others, and your ability to focus and concentrate generally. Often, those of us that are sleep deprived have a tendency to frustrate easily, and often find ourselves distracted more often.

Consider this, the most sleep deprived of us actually fall asleep during the day. These are called micro-sleeps. Your brain essentially turns off. So the engine is running, but there's no one behind the wheel. Take that metaphor and apply it literally; driving down the highway exhausted and your brain just turns off...

Some tips for a good nights sleep: Don't exercise less than two hours before bed, avoid alcohol and caffeine before bed, establish a bedtime routine, use the bedroom only for sleep and sex, and make a list of whatever is running through your head.

Thanks everyone...now get some sleep.

BA
Fit2You Fitness, LLC
www.fit2youfitness.com
Philadelphia and Main Line In Home Personal Training, Yoga, Pilates, and Wellness Services