One of the biggest problems in America—and one not often-discussed—is lack of sleep. Many are affected and the loss of health and work productivity is costing us millions of dollars. Clinical psychologist, professor and author Dr. Arch Hart joins us to talk sleep. He reviews his book: SLEEP, IT DOES A FAMILY GOOD: HOW BUSY FAMILIES CAN OVERCOME SLEEP DEPRIVATION.
The biggest issue is that sleep is “no longer a priority” for the average American. Productivity is dropping, and there are tensions in our relationships that are magnified by lack of sleep. So what should we know?
According to Dr. Hart, young children need about 12 hours of sleep per night. The average adult needs nine hours, although for a very small sliver of the population (about 5%) they need 12 hours of sleep to function properly.
How do we define sleep? Dr. Hart suggests that simply “lying and resting” is part of your sleep routine and can be included in the nine-hour count.
Here are a few things to remember when pursuing a good night’s sleep:
- The sleep cycle runs 90 minutes, so if you can’t get a full nine hours, try to sleep in 90-minute intervals
- Make sure your environment is dark – your body produces melatonin in darkness, which helps you sleep.
- Avoid all caffeine after 3:00 in the afternoon – caffeine is a “sleep killer.”
Remember that we’re wired to rest – we can function best when we’re operating according to God’s design, which includes a time each night to recharge.
Highlight – Sleep’s Importance
Image: Flickr
