Getting enough sleep is an important factor that contributes to physical, mental and emotional well-being. Because the effects of inadequate sleep are devastating, people in South Dallas County and ultimately everywhere need to get enough sleep. A man who was driving non-stop from California to Texas discovered that his body had started shaking uncontrollably during the last three hours in Dallas. A mom-to-be was in a car accident on the freeway because she fell asleep at the wheel with two other children in her back seat. And another young woman felt her body nearly shut down as she drove home from work and she had to blast the air conditioner to stay awake. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2005 Sleep in America survey, “Four percent, approximately eleven million people admit they have been in an accident or near accident because they fell asleep or were too tired to sleep.” drive”.
This fatigue occurs because an inadequate amount of sleep deprives the body of the necessary processes it must perform to maintain your overall well-being. Occurring within the first thirty minutes of sleep, the brain moves the body into stages one and two which are preparatory. They prepare the body for deep sleep by relaxing muscles and slowing down brain waves and eye movement. Stage three is deep sleep, which means it’s harder to wake the sleeper. Stage four is REM or Rapid Eye Movement sleep, where temporary paralysis occurs to ensure that the body is at complete rest because this is the stage of restful sleep. The tissues repair themselves, growth hormone is released, which increases the size of the muscles and the immune system is improved. Also, sleep during this stage rids the body of cellular byproducts and toxins that make us sleepy.
We do not want our body to lose sleep and be forced to harbor ailments. We want to be the healthiest, perform efficiently, and ultimately achieve success at all levels. The stages within the cycle are one, two, three, two, four, and two. Then the entire cycle is repeated in that order and is repeated four times at night. Therefore, it is imperative to go to bed early enough for this cycle to take place in order to properly cleanse and heal the body.
Also, when both children and adults get adequate sleep, they perform much better during the day than if they hadn’t had enough sleep. Teachers often watch students sleep in class. And when asked what time that child went to bed, the answer is always around nine or ten. However, when the children can go to bed around half past seven or eight, they do not sleep in class. And it’s the same with adults. When we fall asleep at a late hour, we are sluggish throughout the day. When we go to bed early, we function well at work.
We have to be strong and turn off those late-night shows that we love so much. Self love is much more important. Let’s embrace the healing effects of sleep: it’s the recipe for our overall success.