Sleep – the forsaken heir of our restless age

Ignored Factor

Sleep is a stolen commodity. A brain basic function trivialized.  There is a perception that sleep is optional or can be sacrificed for other more noteworthy activities.  Viewing sleep as a soothing, restful nighttime routine that can shape our daytime rhythm, might help ease our guilt surrounding this self-replenishing activity. Simply put it is a third pillar to our existence after food, water and air. Instead, today’s fast trending world has constructed a misleading myth around sleep and productivity. So it does not come as a surprise that instead of devoting a third of our day recouping, resting and sleeping, most of us are consistently sleep deprived. Living in age where trends are born every nanosecond, it still seems cool to pronounce that one can do more with less sleep. The trap we find ourselves in, is we are too busy to recovery, even though sleep might be the gateway to creative, physical, sensory and mental recycling. The all persuasive digital revolution has further eroded our parlays into the night.

Sleep, an important part of our brain functions, is how nerve cells communicate with one another. Studies show us that sleep plays a housekeeping role of removing toxins from our brains that build up while we are awake. We customarily dismiss the need for consistent, adequate sleep, not realizing that lack of it, makes it harder to concentrate or respond quickly. Let’s scrutinize why sleep is so crucial and the reasons we should value it.

Marginalized Element

Sleep is not a luxury, but an ultimate self-care routine that we ought not to take for granted. Sleep is more than just rest. It is a much needed process of repair and restoration. An active rather than a passive process. Viewing it in its true modality make us realize that appropriate quantities of sleep cannot be sacrificed. Inculcating sleep routines as a daily rituals with intentionality and purpose is to create consistency of habits.

Reviewing history, we realize that the discovery of electricity, the industrial revolution and the daylight savings all contributed to undervaluing the circadian rhythms of sleep patterns. Modern society with its emphasis on success, prioritizes productivity and achievement, added to the culture of sleep deprivation. Longer working hours, constant connectivity and increased stressors all add to the circumstances of sleep deprivation. To the extent that many younger generations like to brag about getting less sleep, broadcasting it as a sign of strength, dedication and resilience.

“I’ll sleep when I am dead”, mentality doesn’t quite recognize the profound impact of sleep on mood and cognitive functions. Sleep debt is not easily diagnosed and glosses over the reduced focus, increased irritability and impaired decision making that have become the hallmark of today’s world. Sleep also plays a critical role in learning, memory formation and emotional regulation. So let’s embrace and value it as an important cognizant of personal well-being. Horizontal time is necessary and vital and should be free of guilt and anxiety.

Speaking for myself, I too have been inconsistent in my sleep habits – letting everything get in the way. In recent years and much too late I confess, I have finally committed to a healthier nighttime routine. Sacrificing some TV time, I spend 15 minutes meditating, before I go to sleep. My dear blog readers and friends, how do you fare? Are you phone addicts or pillow huggers at night? What does your night time routine look like? Do share your sleep secrets with our community, as we continue our quest for restorative sleep.

We are stronger together