We are a sleep deprived society, according to a recent article in The Atlantic about sleep deprivation. After deciding to stay awake for four straight days, writer Seth Maxon found himself in the psyche ward of a hospital, with a surprisingly long road to recovery ahead. His symptoms mirrored those of someone with clinical depression.
In the article Mr. Maxon’s experiences are dramatic and extreme, but it becomes immediately evident how much sleep matters for good health. It is probably the one thing so many adults feel they’re losing out on – especially those with children. So much of our lives becomes a jumble of time-consuming tasks and so little of it is in sync with our natural sleeping patterns. What we don’t realize is how quickly it all adds up.
Sleep deprivation is cumulative. If the average person requires seven-and-a-half hours of good sleep each night but only manages five, then by the end of a week they’re over seventeen hours short. That’s almost two full nights of sleep missing. If such a pattern is a regular occurrence, it doesn’t take long for the loss to be impossible to recover. We may think we’re okay with less sleep, but it’s not true. We become less efficient, moody, removed. Our cognitive function is hampered.
This applies to children as well. Parents know all too well the extra parenting required to accommodate a child short on sleep. Children can become entire different creatures with their mood swings, lack of focus, and general miserable disposition. It affects their ability to be attentive in school, and how they relate to people around them. Not surprising, what’s the first thing parents do to get things back on track? Early to bed the next night to make up for lost time.
Perhaps we need to do the same thing. Maybe we’re not seeing how wholly necessary sleep is for our body and mind. Want to be more efficient? Want to think more clearly? Want to be happier and relate to others better? Get more sleep. Make it a priority.
The article, How Sleep Deprivation Decays the Mind and Body can be found on The Atlantic website: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/12/how-sleep-deprivation-decays-the-mind-and-body/282395/
Harry Tournemille is a writer and Ontario Arts Council grant recipient living in St. Catharines with his family. He has blogged for Beyond Montessori School (BMS) – a holistic, community-oriented school located near downtown St. Catharines. Offering Toddler through Grade 6, the BMS curriculum is enriched with world music, visual arts, French, phys ed, children’s yoga, eco workshops and so much more