“There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep” Homer

When you have a packed schedule, what are you most likely to do without? Is it sleep? It’s so easy to go to bed an hour later or get up an hour earlier, to get things done. The pressures of life puts sleep at the bottom of our ‘to do’ list.

Before the introduction of the modern filament light bulb, the average person slept nine hours a night. Yet a study by Coren and his colleagues showed the average sleeping time is now just seven and a half hours.

Sleep is for wimps

We hear so many stories about those amazing people who managed just a few hours of sleep a night without any ill consequences. Well guess what? An analysis of these people’s lives has actually shown that such people took regular catnaps throughout the day. The fact remains, we all need sleep. It is essential to our health and wellbeing.

Consequences of sleep deprivation

Experts have identified a number of symptoms resulting from sleep deprivation. These include:

• Reduced concentration
• Fatigue
• Impaired problem solving skills
• Dizziness
• Decrease in reaction times
• Memory problems

Sleep deprivation studies have shown people hallucinate, have speech problems and exhibit paranoid symptoms and anxiety (Coren, 1997). In fact, losing four hours sleep in one night can make your reactions 45% slower.

Not convinced? The next time you’re sleep deprived, do what I did, write out how you were feeling mentally and physically. I think you’ll be surprised.

Sleeping and driving

Research conducted in the US in 2002 revealed a staggering 100 million people drive whilst drowsy. If you are sleepy, you may go into a microsleep. This may last seconds, but can cost you your life. This is particularly so when you are out driving. The National Sleep Foundation who conducted the study note the following symptoms drivers should be alert to, to prevent them going into a microsleep:

• Problems focusing
• Blinking frequently or heavy eyelids
• Difficulty holding your head up
• Frequent yawning
• Missing exits and road signs
• Struggling to remember the last few miles of the journey
• Drifting across lanes
• Tailgating

If you become aware of these signs, pull over immediately and have a nap. Having a caffeinated drink can help. Turning the radio up or opening a window will not help, despite popular belief.

Depriving yourself of sleep can be fatal – to yourself and others

But so many people do it, so who cares? Here is a real example of what can happen if you fall asleep at the wheel. In 2001, in Selby, UK there was a train crash, which caused the loss of ten lives and injured over 70 people. This crash was the result of a vehicle veering off the road and onto the track. The driver was not drunk. He was deprived of sleep. He later received a five-year jail sentence.

Children and sleep deprivation

We all need our sleep, especially children and adolescents. The symptoms of sleep deprivation in children can be surprising. Is your child acting impulsively? Do they have mood swings? Have they become aggressive or inattentive? Are they having problems getting up in the morning? All of these can signal that your child is not getting enough sleep. Children can need 10-12 hours of sleep a night (Coren, 1997), so if your child is exhibiting these behaviours try to make sure they are getting enough.

How about your adolescent? Having problems getting them out of bed in the morning? This could be a sign that they are sleep deprived. As children get older they obviously want to stay up later. Unfortunately adolescents still need plenty of sleep - up to 10 hours. If it’s possible, let them sleep on.

Do your bit for the world – get your sleep in

There are so many reasons to try and get a good night’s sleep, both for yourself and other people around you. You should fall asleep within 30 minutes and if you are not, take a look at my sleep tips.

Reference

Coren, S., 1997 Sleep Thieves, Free Press, USA