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This guide has to do with lack of sleep and how it can affect your body. Also, things one can do to improve there energy through out the day.

Sleep is an extremely important part of a person’s day; one should get at least 6-8 hours sleep to fully function the next day. Research shows that sleep deprivation is linked (epically in university students) to “poor grades, irritability, difficulty concentrating, unhealthy eating, weight gain – and ultimately heart disease, obesity, and diabetes” according to Student Health 101.

According to Dr. Charles Atwood, a sleep medical physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania, “Being sleep-deprived means that your ability to concentrate and focus on tasks like studying is impaired”

“Poor sleep also causes achiness, weight gain, and immune suppression with an increase risk of getting infections” says Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, medical director of the National Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers.

‘Dr. Teitelbaum says that students turn to caffeine, sugar and energy drinks, which help stimulate the mind initially, but make insomnia and other symptoms of sleep disorders worse in the long run.’ – Student Health 101

Napping on a daily basis is found to take a toll on a person’s sleep schedule. BUT, napping can be very good for you, if done the right way; according to health professionals. “There is a growing amount of research that says napping can be beneficial to your health” says Dr. Atwood.

Naps are extremely beneficial, and wont affect your sleep schedule, if they are kept short – about 20-30 mins, and taken early in the morning to mid afternoon – the time of day people naturally feel sleepy, according to Dr. Atwood. Also, in a November article, in USA Today, it said that napping can lead to improved memory.

The times of the day that we get sleep does matter; we can not just get 6-8 hours of sleep when ever we feel like it. According to Dr. Carol Ash, the medical director of Sleep for Life, “Everyone should be awake during the day and asleep at night in order to regulate their sleep-wake cycle”

Do we all need 6-8 hours sleep? No, this is general; some of us need more, some of us need less. “Just like shoe size, optimal sleep varies from person to person,” “The bottom of the line is ‘How do you feel?’ If you feel great, that is the body’s way of saying that what you are doing is working, and ignore what anyone else says” according to Dr. Taitelbaum.

So just to recap:
- Generally try to get at least 6-8 hours sleep
- Napping is good when done right (20-30 mins in the mooring/mid afternoon)
- Know your own body (you may need more or you may need less than 6-8 hours of sleep)