Sleep. Why do we sleep?
This age-old question about why we humans sleep has long baffled scientists, and even doctors, according to book author, Matthew Walker. In his book, “Why we Sleep”, he discusses about the importance of sleep. The effects of sleep deprivation. And how to get some more good-quality sleep at night.
For me, I haven’t finished the book. However, I think I have read enough blog posts, some chapters from the book, “Why we Sleep”, and other content mostly online — about the subject of sleep. And why it is an often under-appreciated activity that we ought to get enough of.
Sleep allows your body and mind to recover, clean or clear away toxins, and heal itself. Apart from this, sleep also allows you to consolidate short term memory into your long-term memory storage. Sleep helps all your bodily functions and promotes healthy regulations that we rely on for good health. Sleep also helps your body fight infections from a host of bacteria and viruses. When you get less sleep at night you’re far more susceptible to catching a virus or to get sick from bacteria. Than you are, when you’re able to get enough good-quality sleep at night.
Sleep is also most effective when you stick to a regular time schedule. When you sleep at the same time roughly each night. And when you naturally wake up from sleep next morning — you’ll find that you will also wake up at roughly the same hour also.
Sleeping at night time is also beneficial. Studies have shown that working in the graveyard hours, or doing night-shift for the long run has noticeable links to developing several kinds of illness, from depression, burnout, to various forms of cancer.
If you’re also studying, like me, sleep will greatly help you memorize or retain what you’re studying or reading about. Try taking a 15 minute to a 30 minute nap just after reading a few chapters of a book you need to learn from. Or much better, if you study (without too much of you being behind digital screens, like your computer or mobile phone) before going to bed at night. You’ll find it easier to recall information the next morning and following days after. Please note, that this only works if you study a little bit, consistently. Meaning, you need to have a regular study schedule at each day if possible. Studying daily, even for just a few hours, helps your brain solidify and chunk related information together. American engineering professors, Dr. Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowksi explains this further in their book and online course about “Learning How to Learn”.
It is also possible to sleep more easily at night if you follow some simple rules before going to bed at night.
And what also works for me, that I have learned from books and other content online are the following tips.
- Go to bed at roughly the same hour each night. And wake up at roughly the same time also. Consistency matters also when it comes to your sleep schedule. More appropriately, sleep-scientists call it “regularity”.
- Get some early-morning sunlight into your eyes, and on your body (the more of the surface area of the body that early-morning sunlight reaches, the better it is). For at least 5 to 10 minutes each morning.
- Get some physical exercise. It need not be over the top. It just needs to get your heart pumping more blood across your arteries and veins of your body. Around 15 minutes of simple exercises, for me, does the good stuff. The important part is, to do this consistently. Start simple and small, this usually helps you stick to a routine until you’re able to be consistent about it.
- Don’t drink anything with caffeine, especially coffee, at least 7 to 8 hours before you plan to go to sleep. Caffeine really can derail your natural hormones that make you feel sleepy.
- Don’t eat heavy meals right before bed time. Try to have a lead time to digest for at least 2 hours before going to sleep. Much better if you can sleep 3 hours following a normal meal for dinner. If possible, try to eat rice or bread during dinner time. As this kind of foods, with carbohydrates, helps you go to sleep at night also.
The above list is something that I do follow, personally. And it works.
Hoping these pieces of information helps you, my friends.
For now, I guess this brings us once again to the end of this post.
Thank you, and good night. Sleep well, my friends.
Hello there! How are you? My name is Abraham, or, Abe to all my friends, acquaintances, and family.
I’m a young dad, an uncle, an older kuya, and a son. I love learning and putting things together when it comes to small projects around computers, and tech. And for me, I also love food, everyday drink — like coffee, and most furry creatures — like good doggo doggos (goofy doggos), and chonky (very fat, almost circular and literally round) cattos. ^_^ Anyway, I hope good animals also make you chuckle, my friends.
Recently, I was hired to work as an engineer in I.T., specializing in looking after web-servers, maintenance, and a few other stuff.
Thank God! From my end, I had been dreaming to become an engineer in I.T., and have been studying for it for a time now.
We mustn’t stop with our training and study. For we’ll need to keep learning in order for us to remain helpful.
Nawa, ang Panginoon’g Diyos ang Siyang purihin, dakilain, at pasalamatan sa ating mga gawain, at salita.
My friends, may the Lord our God be glorified, honored, and praised – through the kind of work that He called us unto.
Thank you, and for now, that’s mostly it for me. Salamat po!