New 2008 Sleep Poll Won't Change Anything
How many of you heard news this week about a new study in our sleepless society? It's been all over the media: the National Sleep Foundation just released its 2008 Poll showing just how bad our sleep deprivation is getting.
Americans spend about 9.5 hours a day cranking it out on the job and then an additional 4.5 hours of work at home. No wonder 32 percent of those surveyed say they only get a good night's sleep a few nights per month.
A full sixty-five percent of us report experiencing a sleep problem, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, and waking feeling unrefreshed at least a few times each week; and nearly half of those people admit to having that sleep problem almost every night.
So it's also no surprise that this is having a huge impact in our professional and personal lives.
We are falling asleep at work, nodding off ever so slightly while driving (yikes!), and losing interest in fun, pleasurable activities like sex. (Hey, if both partners are over-tired, at least there is no argument.)
This study should not have been too alarming. Anecdotal evidence alone proves it to be spot on. And the results are very similar to previous polls taken by the Foundation.
But we're not learning how to prioritize sleep and do something about it.
I regret that this Poll's impact, however big or small, it has had on people this week won't last. You'll read about it, think about it for a second, and then go back to doing what you've always been doing: too much. You say you're juggling this and that, but does sleep even get included on that list?
How can we change this? When will we see evidence that people are claiming back their sleep, as well as their energy, youthful looks, sex lives, waistlines (yes, sleep does have a huge say in how many spare tires you carry around), wit, memories, and ability to learn new things?
Sleep plays an important role in all these things, but clearly no one is listening to the message. Just like no one is doing much to lose unhealthy weight and get into shape for the sake of a better, more fulfilling life.
As a society that prefers productivity over everything else, we are sadly moving toward being a fat, unfit, tired, and cranky nation. Will this ultimately affect our economy and global competitiveness? It wouldn't surprise me. There must be a breaking point above which "productivity" halts because there's only so much Starbucks the body can take.
The sad part about all this is that unlike other feats in our lives, gaining restful sleep - even if you've got insomnia or some other sleep disorder - is relatively easy to achieve with a few good habits. Good habits, though, are few and far between these days. And I'm not being a cynic. I'm being a (well-rested) realist.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: sleep deprivation, National Sleep Foundation, insomnia, health and wellness
Americans spend about 9.5 hours a day cranking it out on the job and then an additional 4.5 hours of work at home. No wonder 32 percent of those surveyed say they only get a good night's sleep a few nights per month.
A full sixty-five percent of us report experiencing a sleep problem, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, and waking feeling unrefreshed at least a few times each week; and nearly half of those people admit to having that sleep problem almost every night.
So it's also no surprise that this is having a huge impact in our professional and personal lives.
We are falling asleep at work, nodding off ever so slightly while driving (yikes!), and losing interest in fun, pleasurable activities like sex. (Hey, if both partners are over-tired, at least there is no argument.)
This study should not have been too alarming. Anecdotal evidence alone proves it to be spot on. And the results are very similar to previous polls taken by the Foundation.
But we're not learning how to prioritize sleep and do something about it.
I regret that this Poll's impact, however big or small, it has had on people this week won't last. You'll read about it, think about it for a second, and then go back to doing what you've always been doing: too much. You say you're juggling this and that, but does sleep even get included on that list?
How can we change this? When will we see evidence that people are claiming back their sleep, as well as their energy, youthful looks, sex lives, waistlines (yes, sleep does have a huge say in how many spare tires you carry around), wit, memories, and ability to learn new things?
Sleep plays an important role in all these things, but clearly no one is listening to the message. Just like no one is doing much to lose unhealthy weight and get into shape for the sake of a better, more fulfilling life.
As a society that prefers productivity over everything else, we are sadly moving toward being a fat, unfit, tired, and cranky nation. Will this ultimately affect our economy and global competitiveness? It wouldn't surprise me. There must be a breaking point above which "productivity" halts because there's only so much Starbucks the body can take.
The sad part about all this is that unlike other feats in our lives, gaining restful sleep - even if you've got insomnia or some other sleep disorder - is relatively easy to achieve with a few good habits. Good habits, though, are few and far between these days. And I'm not being a cynic. I'm being a (well-rested) realist.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: sleep deprivation, National Sleep Foundation, insomnia, health and wellness
2 Comments:
Bravo, Dr. Breus! For years, I was a prototypical American-I worked until 2 AM somedays, caught a little shut eye, kissed my sleeping wife, and got back in the saddle for the 7AM train to wstart work all over again. Needless to say, I was chronically sleep deprived. I rememer feeling tired all the time, so much so, that the feeling of beeing well-rested only came to me maybe once or twice a year. And then only when I was on vacation, just before I was to return to work to start the cylce all over again.
By the way, when I say I vacationed, I mean I took a long weekend, joining my wife and kids who usually left ahead of me and stayed after I left to go back to my desk.
At work, I was a hero. Those of us who never took vacation were the Studs.
This continued until, predictably, my health started to fail. First, massive weight gain, then battles with depression. I looked about 20 years older than my age.
It started to turn around from me the day my youngest son looked at my wedding photo. He strained trying to figure out who that man was beside Mommy. She looked about the same. I look like the grandfather of the man I was when I married just 15 years ago.
I now do things differently. A buddy who had a heart attack sent me an article. I think the link is http://www.collectivewizdom.com/MyHeartAttackpage1
I read it whenever I want to slip back into old habits. Now I exercise evry day in one form or another. I eat right. And yes, I even get sleep. About 7-8.5 hours a day. Not enough I know. But loads better than I had been doing.
Thank you for your post, Dr. I hope a lot of people read it and hear the wake up call. Or should I say the "get sleep" call.
Dear Fr.Breus, I am a long-time insomniac with mod/severe depression, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, ADHD,fibromyalgia, and (20)yrs back injury/disease including double scoliosis, spinal stenosis with bone spurs into the nerves(L4,L5,S1)and degen. disease. Also migraines and asthma. But my psychiatrist just started me on gabapentin(neurontin)and it's so nice to finally be able to get up in the morning with some energy. I've even cooked over the past 2 weeks (real food,not frozen junk)-lasagna, home-made soups,etc. I've even noticed a change in my kids(seeing me do things that I used to do).I hope this is helpful to someone else.Sincerely, Holly A.Pagliarulo
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