Sleep Deprivation
Renee Woodruff
Having a mother diagnosed with narcolepsy in her late thirties has brought on an unsettling fear of sleep deprivation (given that the disease is hereditary). Getting eight hours of sleep is a non-negotiable for me, whether that means going to bed earlier or getting up a little later to ensure feeling well rested each day.
Admittedly, living in a society that prides itself on working long hours and running ourselves too thin, this can prove very difficult. But I do my best, because as the infographic below shows, loss of sleep can mean loss of our minds and health...even after the first bad night.
Getting the appropriate amount of shut-eye is easier said than done, so in my next post, I'll provide some tips on how I prepare myself for a restful night (and unfortunately, it doesn't include red wine!). I'm an advocate of giving 100% to our families, jobs and nurturing our relationships, but if we're walking around like zombies, and it feels appropriate to have a bottle of wine at the end of each night in celebration that we made it through the day, then, really, what is the point of it all?
Here's to getting more SLEEEEEEEEP and in return, receiving the joy out of life that we all so much deserve.
