The sleep killers (DW#701)
We have been discussing the importance of sleep and how chronic sleep deprivation harms us. This week let us explore why we as a generation and a culture are not getting enough sleep.
Before reading any further, do a quick check in with yourself. Are you among the majority (more than two-thirds) of the modern population that does not get enough sleep? And if so, do you know what compromises your sleep?
Today let us explore the top two reasons why people do not get enough sleep:
1. Simply not valuing sleep. Like everything else, it all starts with our awareness that it matters and why it matters. If we have no idea of the importance of sleep and how the lack of it is impacting us, we will not make any changes to improve our sleeping habits.
2. Inconsistency. We do not follow a consistent sleep schedule. All the leading sleep gurus (including Matthew) tell us that CONSISTENCY is key.
He advises that the MOST important thing to optimize our sleep is to "Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. … Set an alarm for bedtime. Often we set an alarm for when it’s time to wake up but fail to do so for when it’s time to go to sleep. If there is only one piece of advice you remember … this should be it."
So, do you have a bedtime? How consistent are you about following this? Are you willing to experiment for a week or more and set an alarm to go to bed? This is what I am working on right now.
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