Let’s Talk…about sleep

Are you finding that you are jealous of your dog or cat sleeping all day? Then you may not be sleeping enough. As the lives of people get busier, the time for quality sleep decreases. In addition, technology has made it easier to stay connected at all times, which means that checking emails in bed is not all that difficult. Knowing when to turn off your mind and to get proper rest is essential in daily functioning.

We hear it all the time, an increase in quality sleep improves concentration, increases overall health, and decreases stress; the key word there is quality. However, if sleep decreases stress but stress has a major impact on sleep, then it seems like we’re stuck in a conundrum. How do I get quality sleep to reduce stress if that very stress is also preventing quality sleep? Likewise, the same can be said about health problems. In addition to sleep-related conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome, there are certain health problems like lupus, arthritis, diabetes, etc. that also make trying to sleep difficult.

It’s no wonder there are so many sleep products aimed towards providing a better night’s sleep. Time reported that consumers spent a whopping $32 billion on sleep related products in 2012*. In modern times, society demands quicker solutions to many problems. Faster coffee, yes please. Shows on demand, but of course. Fast food before you arrive at the pick-up window, why not? Are we becoming impatient to sleep as well? Who has 7 to 9 hours to spare each day? Moreover, with the growing popularity of energy drinks, it seems we are becoming a nation that is more sleep-deprived than ever.

So let’s get back to that conundrum, what do we do? First of all, understand that although things in life are getting faster, sleep should not. There is no shortcut to getting less sleep with no consequences, so just commit to the task and do a good job. Second, follow some simple rules like no electronics in bed and create a routine. Your body will adapt and adjust to the routine, just like it does with jet lag after a few days. Finally, if the cause of your sleep problem is due to endless worry, stress, or rumination of past events, then it may be helpful to speak to a counselor.

For more information, visit to Semel Insititute's Sleep Well.

Yarrow, K. (2013). The sleep industry: Why we’re paying big bucks for something that’s free. Time.

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