The Importance of a Good Nights Rest
When you're in a rush to make a meeting, go to school, uphold household responsibilities, or make an appointment in the morning, do you cut back on your sleep? For most, many people believe that sleep is simply a designated time in the day when the brain shuts off and the body rests.
But what people don't realize is that sleep is a series of distinctive stages where the brain remains active throughout the night.
For example, certain stages of the sleep cycle are required for people to feel well rested and energetic the next day while other stages of the sleep cycle help people learn or make memories.
In short, a number of critical tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best.
However, not getting enough sleep can be dangerous for your health and well being.
For example, you're more likely to be in a car accident if you drive when you're drowsy rather than if you were well rested.
How much sleep a person requires varies from person to person, and they change throughout the course of a person's lifecycle.
Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night whereas newborns need to sleep around 16 and 18 hours a day.
Children in preschool require 10 and 12 hours a day and school-aged children as well as teens need at least 9 hours of sleep a night.
A common myth that some people believe is that adults need less sleep, as they get older.
Currently there is no evidence to show that older people can get by with less sleep than younger people.
However, they often get less sleep or tend to spend less time in the deep, restful stages of sleep.
Older people are also more easily awakened.
People need sleep to react quickly, think clearly, and create memories.
In many cases, pathways in the brain that help us learn and remember are very active when we sleep.
Studies have shown that people who are taught to execute mentally stimulating tasks do better after a good night's sleep.
Other research suggests that sleep is needed for creative problem solving.
In other words, how well rested a person is and how well they function the next day depend on the total sleep time a person gets each night.
But what people don't realize is that sleep is a series of distinctive stages where the brain remains active throughout the night.
For example, certain stages of the sleep cycle are required for people to feel well rested and energetic the next day while other stages of the sleep cycle help people learn or make memories.
In short, a number of critical tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best.
However, not getting enough sleep can be dangerous for your health and well being.
For example, you're more likely to be in a car accident if you drive when you're drowsy rather than if you were well rested.
How much sleep a person requires varies from person to person, and they change throughout the course of a person's lifecycle.
Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night whereas newborns need to sleep around 16 and 18 hours a day.
Children in preschool require 10 and 12 hours a day and school-aged children as well as teens need at least 9 hours of sleep a night.
A common myth that some people believe is that adults need less sleep, as they get older.
Currently there is no evidence to show that older people can get by with less sleep than younger people.
However, they often get less sleep or tend to spend less time in the deep, restful stages of sleep.
Older people are also more easily awakened.
People need sleep to react quickly, think clearly, and create memories.
In many cases, pathways in the brain that help us learn and remember are very active when we sleep.
Studies have shown that people who are taught to execute mentally stimulating tasks do better after a good night's sleep.
Other research suggests that sleep is needed for creative problem solving.
In other words, how well rested a person is and how well they function the next day depend on the total sleep time a person gets each night.
