Do you sleep? Actually I don’t, na I'm just kidding. Sleep is an activity that takes up about one third of our life. Human beings sleep about 7-9 hours a day on an average with newborns about 14-17 hours every day. Cats sleep 70% of their life (16-20 hours a day). Dolphins sleep with one half of their brains at rest and other half still active (e.g right brain with left eye closed). Snails sleep about 2-3 days at a time and can sleep up to 3 years at once during harsh living conditions (winter, dry conditions). Sleep is necessary for healthy functioning of our body, mind and soul. Sleep helps in consolidation of memories in our brain, improves memory, sharpens attention and lowers stress. Sleep deficiency can cause problems in decision making, problem solving, learning and attention.
Facts and reasons apart, sleep comes with some amazing features. Everyone is eligible for it; there is no need to be over 18 or need have a license to avail it. Always available and in unlimited quantities; you can even nap at your office desk or doze-off during a meeting, but not without the risk of embarrassing yourself or getting fired. As a fun fact, sleeping during working hours (inemuri) in Japan is considered as a sign of dedication indicating that you have been exhausted out of working hard. You don't have to remind yourself to carry it along with you (such as laptop, bag pack, identity card or credit card). And sometimes, you are selected to experience bonus movie clips (yeah! dreams). Sleep doesn't come in many varieties, thus eliminating the paradox of choice that occurs with other products (such as grocery, outfits). It is a completely individualistic and personal experience, and no one else can steal it or use it; although they can interrupt you from having it. And on top of it, it is available absolutely free of cost, there are no membership fees (like gym) or any onetime fees associated with it.
Even with so many benefits, we are constantly sleeping less and less these days. Before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1880’s, we slept on an average about 10 hrs a day, which has now reduced to about 6 . Sleeping less has become a sign of smartness and often considered a waste of time. People believe in a myth that they can catch-up sleep at weekends.
Here are some tips for sleeping well. Have a regular schedule of going to bed and getting up. In fact, I would say don't schedule it, but schedule everything else around it (like you would do for a favorite activity). Physical exercise, a few hours before going to bed helps in falling asleep. Avoid drinking caffeine during the night. Allow about 30 minutes of time away from electronic gadgets before going to bed.
We need to reap the benefits of sleep as much as we can, as its commercialization is not too far. With modern day sleep habits, its demand is going to skyrocket soon. We may soon have to pay to rent or use it, negotiate for sleep allowance hours with our employer, or take a membership of a sleep club for motivation. Atleast, we don't want to say to our friends: “I sleep on Tuesday's & Thursday's 2-3.30 pm”.
Sleep is like a fountain that recharges the body much like happiness recharges the soul. Let’s cherish every moment of it!!
Facts and reasons apart, sleep comes with some amazing features. Everyone is eligible for it; there is no need to be over 18 or need have a license to avail it. Always available and in unlimited quantities; you can even nap at your office desk or doze-off during a meeting, but not without the risk of embarrassing yourself or getting fired. As a fun fact, sleeping during working hours (inemuri) in Japan is considered as a sign of dedication indicating that you have been exhausted out of working hard. You don't have to remind yourself to carry it along with you (such as laptop, bag pack, identity card or credit card). And sometimes, you are selected to experience bonus movie clips (yeah! dreams). Sleep doesn't come in many varieties, thus eliminating the paradox of choice that occurs with other products (such as grocery, outfits). It is a completely individualistic and personal experience, and no one else can steal it or use it; although they can interrupt you from having it. And on top of it, it is available absolutely free of cost, there are no membership fees (like gym) or any onetime fees associated with it.
Even with so many benefits, we are constantly sleeping less and less these days. Before Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in 1880’s, we slept on an average about 10 hrs a day, which has now reduced to about 6 . Sleeping less has become a sign of smartness and often considered a waste of time. People believe in a myth that they can catch-up sleep at weekends.
Here are some tips for sleeping well. Have a regular schedule of going to bed and getting up. In fact, I would say don't schedule it, but schedule everything else around it (like you would do for a favorite activity). Physical exercise, a few hours before going to bed helps in falling asleep. Avoid drinking caffeine during the night. Allow about 30 minutes of time away from electronic gadgets before going to bed.
We need to reap the benefits of sleep as much as we can, as its commercialization is not too far. With modern day sleep habits, its demand is going to skyrocket soon. We may soon have to pay to rent or use it, negotiate for sleep allowance hours with our employer, or take a membership of a sleep club for motivation. Atleast, we don't want to say to our friends: “I sleep on Tuesday's & Thursday's 2-3.30 pm”.
Sleep is like a fountain that recharges the body much like happiness recharges the soul. Let’s cherish every moment of it!!
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