Thank you for your post Kelly. I find that as much as I tell myself I will get to bed in time to get 7.5-8 hours of sleep, I let it slip. 8 here, 7 there, 6.2, 6.8, etc. So, every 4-5 weeks or so I try to reset my body with as much sleep as it actually needs. Step 1, no alcohol. Step 2, I go to sleep at 9pm the latest, Step 3, I do not set an alarm. This way my body sleeps exactly how much it needs. I did this a couple of weeks ago and my app tells the story. No exaggerating here, this was a 6 night stretch for hours slept: 9:02, 8:50, 8:46, 8:44, 9:43, 8:00. Way more than my norm. My body really needed it and I felt amazing. The key is no alarm and don't set any work meetings or workouts before 9am. Have a great Sunday.
This is an important topic that doesn't get enough press. I recommend the book "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker. Sleep deprivation is costly to our health and society and has been linked to heart attacks, diabetes, mental health challenges, and poor work/school performance. The impacts of alcohol on sleep (spoiler - it's not good) and the the shifting sleep patterns of teenagers and later school start times was especially interesting to me. After reading this, I was convinced that sleep might be the cure for all that ails us. Wishing you and your readers good health and a good night's rest!
Thank you for your post Kelly. I find that as much as I tell myself I will get to bed in time to get 7.5-8 hours of sleep, I let it slip. 8 here, 7 there, 6.2, 6.8, etc. So, every 4-5 weeks or so I try to reset my body with as much sleep as it actually needs. Step 1, no alcohol. Step 2, I go to sleep at 9pm the latest, Step 3, I do not set an alarm. This way my body sleeps exactly how much it needs. I did this a couple of weeks ago and my app tells the story. No exaggerating here, this was a 6 night stretch for hours slept: 9:02, 8:50, 8:46, 8:44, 9:43, 8:00. Way more than my norm. My body really needed it and I felt amazing. The key is no alarm and don't set any work meetings or workouts before 9am. Have a great Sunday.
This is an important topic that doesn't get enough press. I recommend the book "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker. Sleep deprivation is costly to our health and society and has been linked to heart attacks, diabetes, mental health challenges, and poor work/school performance. The impacts of alcohol on sleep (spoiler - it's not good) and the the shifting sleep patterns of teenagers and later school start times was especially interesting to me. After reading this, I was convinced that sleep might be the cure for all that ails us. Wishing you and your readers good health and a good night's rest!