Is Sleeping Overrated?

An Irish proverb has long said, "A good laugh & a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book." Research is showing how true this is... We are just beginning to understand the true importance of sleep. A lack of sleep can contribute to:
- weight gain (or difficulty losing weight);
- more accidents & injuries;
- lowered immunity;
- trouble concentrating, deciding, & remembering;
- being moody & have trouble handling stress; etc.

While everybody is different, experts recommend that most adults get between 7 - 9 hours. (Insert gasps, eye rolls, & exasperated sighs.) Even shortchanging yourself by an hour can impact how you feel & perform.

Sleep quality is equally important, though. Behaviors such as:
- what we eat or drink;
- our sleep hygiene (temperature, noise, darkness, etc.);
- physical activity levels; etc.,
can influence how we sleep.

For more info, check out:
- HelpGuide.org's How Much Sleep do You Need? (includes signs & symptoms, myths, recommendations by age, sleep stages, tips, etc.)
- Mayo Clinic's 7 Steps to Better Sleep
- National Sleep Foundation's Sleep IQ Quiz.