Sleep is one of the most important areas of life when it pertains to productivity and endurance. Believe it or not, many individuals are sleep deprived and lack the energy required to have productive days. Getting enough uninterrupted sleep can make the world of difference on an individual’s mental and physical health. Taking full advantage of a good night’s sleep can result in added benefits to your health and well being.
The amount of sleep required for most individuals is between 6 to 8 hours per night. While 6 to 8 hours is the average, others require at least 10 hours to function productively. This number varies significantly on the individual and what they endure on a daily basis. Most healthy adults are able to maintain wakefulness for at least 16 hours in a 24 hour period. Babies and children are less liable to maintain wakefulness for 16 hours, which is why naps are needed during the day to keep them on a healthy sleeping schedule. The need for sleep does not decline as you get older, however, your body may begin to require less sleep to function healthy and normally.
Most individuals tend to sleep at night between the hours of 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM as those are peak sleeping hours. Not all schedules permit individuals to be asleep during normal peak sleeping hours. As business hours are not all the same, neither are peak sleeping hours. Individuals who work the night shift have a very different sleeping schedule as they are working during normal peak sleeping hours. Instead of sleeping at night, they utilize their sleeping hours during the morning and/or daytime. Whether you’re sleeping at night or in the morning, 6 to 8 hours is still the required amount to be fully rested.
Keeping a regular sleep and wake schedule is important. Once the schedule has been set in place, the body will naturally adapt to the schedule, letting an individual know when it’s time to rest as well as wake up. Avoid eating and drinking caffeine at least 4 to 6 hours before bed; this will allow for well-rounded sleep. If possible, it is best to minimize noise, light and excessively hot and cold temperatures where sleeping. It is best to try and wake up without an alarm clock so the body is not dependent on it. The body will naturally wake up on its own as it knows when the maximum amount of sleep has been reached. While maintaining a schedule is important, it is also important to tweak the schedule at times to keep a healthy balance.
There are certain factors that play a role in how well an individual is sleeping such as bedding and environment. Having the proper mattress and pillows are important and can make the world of difference in your sleeping pattern and or habits. The options are endless when it comes to selecting the proper type of bedding that fits an individual’s needs. Bedding companies such as Bedding Mart have a wide variety of mattress choices that meet the needs of all individuals. Mattresses are not one size fits all. Individual needs vary; mattresses and pillows need to have the level of comfort that you need to get some good sleep.
The body can be thought of as a machine that is working during the day, but also works at night. While asleep, the body is working to heal damaged cells, boost the immune system, recharge your heart and cardiovascular system, and it’s working to recover from the activities that took place that day. If the body is unable to recharge from the previous day, it’s likely that the body will be overworked and won’t function to its full potential. The refreshing feeling that comes when the body has experienced a full 6 to 8 hours of sleep is valuable to one’s productivity. When the body is unable to recharge, an individual may experience feeling drowsy, irritable, and sometimes depressed. Lacking sleep can make simple tasks seem more difficult than they need to be. Struggling to stay awake can be unsafe, especially if operating a motor vehicle or working in a job which requires high attention to detail for safety reasons. It’s imperative to maintain a healthy sleeping regiment for the sake of physical and mental health.