Usually people need about one hour of sleep for every two hours awake. The brain acts like a banker and keeps a ledger sheet of sleep and wakefulness. Sleep debt the accumulated amount of lost sleep. Sleep debt is just like any debt - it must be paid back.
Studies show there is a direct correlation between our performance and the level of sleep debt we are carrying. Chronic sleep loss impacts our ability to receive information (vigilance); our ability to act on information (alertness) and our attention span.
How Sleep Smart is your lifestyle?
- Do you avoid caffeinated drinks? in the evening?
- Do you eat your evening meal at least three hours before you go to bed?
- Do you have a regular bedtime?
- Do you have a bedtime ritual like a hot bath or reading a few pages, relaxing?
- Is your bedroom quiet?
- Is the temperature of your bedroom just right?
- Is you bed, mattress and pillows the most comfortable place in the world?
- Are the linens, blankets, just right for you?
If you would like to learn more about sleep, please read:
The Promise of Sleep by William C Dement MD. Dell publishing. ISBN 0-440-50901
