I used to subscribe to the theory that I could pay off a week of getting four hours of sleep per night by sleeping late on the weekends. Not anymore. This New York Times article: The Claim: A Person Can Pay Off Sleep Debt by Sleeping Late on Weekends shows that sleep debt isn’t that easy to pay off.
What Is Sleep Debt
Wikipedia calls sleep debt: the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep. A large sleep debt may lead to mental and/or physical fatigue.
I first learned about the term while in college, where I would routinely get four hours of sleep or less each week night and try to find ways to supplement my sleep in between classes and on weekends. The habits I developed there have carried over into my professional life, and I’m now finding out just how unhealthy it is to not sleep.
How Much Sleep Do You Need
The consensus seems to be that sleep needs vary by age and by person. Although data can not link sleep deprivation directly to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, there seems to be some kind of a connection. This New York Times article: At Every Age, Feeling the Effects of Too Little Sleep talks about the perils of not getting enough sleep and how the vicious cycle starts in most adults when they hit puberty.
What Can You Do?
The best answer seems to be to listen to your body, although I realize how hard that can be. The Internet is a strong influencer in my personal struggle with getting enough sleep. It seems that no matter how hard I try, I am unable to fit everything that needs to be done into my day. That makes it very hard for me to pull myself away from the computer late at night… which leads to worry and consternation from my better half.
Setting bedtime goals, as funny as that sounds, and making a lights out commitment is the path that I’m currently headed down. The key I think will lie in consistency over time.
How Much Sleep Do You Get?
Is it hard for you to keep your eyes open at night? Do you find yourself dozing off throughout the day? What have you done to change your sleep habits? Please share with us in the comments below.
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