HEALTHY SLEEPING PATTERNS
Wake up! Are you sleeping enough?
Will you be my sleeping buddy?
Getting enough sleep is just as important to a healthy lifestyle as is going to the gym, and eating nutritiously. We have gym buddies to hold us accountable for getting sufficient exercise throughout the week; we have dieting partners who hold us accountable to a healthy meal plan…so, why can’t we have sleeping buddies? Now I know what you’re thinking…and I’m not talking about that kind of sleeping buddy. What I mean is – a friend who holds you accountable for getting sufficient sleep throughout the week. Do you even remember what it feels like to wake up feeling truly rested and ready to conquer the day? To not wake up feeling exhausted, or with a minor headache before drinking that first cup of coffee? Sounds like a dream…
Go to Bed!
Not getting enough sleep is bad for your body. Sleep deprivation causes a load of health issues. For example, recent studies show that not getting enough sleep increases your risk of cancer, heart attack and Alzheimer’s. Adults typically need between seven and nine hours of sleep a night to function at their best.
But you probably knew all this stuff about what happens to your body when you’re not getting enough shut-eye. You feel it when you wake up in the morning. Then why aren’t you prioritizing a good night’s sleep? One of the reasons may be that New Yorkers applaud not getting enough sleep and wear it like a badge of honor. Some people view getting eight hours of sleep as a sign of laziness and an indication that you’re not committed or dedicated to your job. Those two to three cups of coffee or occasional energy drinks that you consume throughout the day aren’t helpful either. Alarm clocks and even the lights emitted by our cell phones, tablets, and laptops throw off our “circadian rhythm” otherwise known as our natural sleep/wake cycle.
So, how do we get better about sleep?
How can we encourage each other to feel well-rested? Articles float around on social media about the need for sleep; Tweets and Instagram stories try to point out health issues related to sleep deprivation – but is this enough? It’s time we New Yorkers come to terms with and talk about how truly important getting a good night’s sleep is for our mental and physical well-being. Have you ever seen the ads for Casper on the subway? Other than being a direct-to-customer mattress company, the mattress brand also actually gets the importance of sleep. Casper co-founder Philip Krim stated, “We want to be the brand that people talk about as really accelerating the movement around realizing that prioritizing sleep is an important thing.“ Krim said that just as Nike made active lifestyles appealing, and Whole Foods popularized healthy eating, Casper is going to bring to light to the third pillar of wellness – Sleep. Thanks, Casper! It’s nice to know that someone is looking out for us – but we also have to look out for each other.
When you’re tired, you’re too exhausted to do other activities that make you feel good – like being with friends or taking a yoga class. Lack of sleep also affects our mood. And if you’re not taking care of yourself, then you definitely aren’t able to take care of others. As New Yorkers – we need to perceive sleep as a valuable and necessary component to living a healthy life. Let’s reverse the negative stigma associated with getting a good night’s sleep and check in on each other to make sure we’re getting enough ZZzzzs.
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