Check Your Sleep Quotient
« Back to Spring 2008 Issue
There's quite a bit of attention being paid to the role that sleep plays in our overall wellness today, and you'd be amazed at the effect it can have on your daily physical and mental state – and you might not be aware of how different you’d feel with a little more of it. We'll start with a checklist, just to paint a picture. Studies have shown an increased connection between sleep deprivation and
- the chances of you having an automobile accident
- weight gain, caused by an increased appetite
- heart disease and diabetes – your risk substantially rises
- mood swings and depression, which often lead to substance abuse
- memory dysfunction and reduced attention span
Wellness is an optimal condition where you are able to use your senses and faculties to their greatest potential. You can't do that if you’re short-changing yourself on sleep.
Take a simple test to see if you’re getting the zzz's you need:
- True/False I have difficulty falling asleep.
- True/False Thoughts race through my mind and this prevents me from sleeping.
- True/False I feel afraid to go to sleep.
- True/False I wake up during the night and can't go back to sleep.
- True/False Despite sleeping all night, I feel tired when I awaken.
- True/False I wake up earlier in the morning than I would like to.
- True/False I lie awake for half an hour or more before I fall asleep.
- True/False I wake in the morning with muscle or joint stiffness and aches.
- True/False I feel sad and depressed.
- True/False Daytime sleepiness sometimes interrupts my daily activities.
Even a few true answers mean you're probably missing out on important sleep hours. Look at your sleep habits and see if you can modify even a few, to begin to make a difference in your daily and ongoing mental and physical health.
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