Sleep is Important for a Healthy Lifestyle

A student at Mississippi College, Shelbie Yates is pursuing a masters of business administration. While pursuing her post graduate degree, Shelbie Yates is serving as an executive assistant at Sable Investments in Madison, Mississippi. There, she coordinates scheduling, travel arrangements, and communications for the chairman and CEO of the company. In addition to her professional responsibilities and educational endeavors, Ms. Yates is committed to pursuing a healthy lifestyle. 

While the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and incorporating regular exercise into one’s routine are often touted as essential components of a healthy lifestyle, one must not neglect the necessity of getting a good night’s sleep. Sufficient sleep allows the body time to restore and execute important systemic functions that only occur when it is at rest.

Age largely determines the amount of sleep one needs. Preschoolers for example, should get between 11 and 12 hours of sleep each night while teens should aim for 9-10 hours. Average adults need approximately 7 or 8 eight hours of sleep, with a quarter of that time in the deepest REM stage of sleep. Even with the full amount of recommended sleep, without sufficient time in REM, adults will wake up feeling groggy and unrested.

Sleep plays a critical role in one’s immune function, metabolism, memory, and ability to learn. Likewise, less sleep can increase occurrences of inflammation. Research shows that appropriate amounts of sleep can increase creativity, improve athletic function and academic performance, lower stress, and help with weight loss.

Many adults have trouble sleeping. Experts suggest avoiding stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine several hours before bed. They also advise patients to set a consistent sleep schedule and to set the thermostat at a cool and comfortable temperature, typically between 60 and 70 fahrenheit. Though sometimes difficult, sleep experts also suggest avoiding watching television in bed and to stop all screen activities about an hour before bedtime.