The NSF 2003 Sleep In America Polls indicated that sleep deprivation in an ever growing problem, and affects everyone from children to the elderly. Sleep is so very necessary to all of us. People who would never skimp on food or even recreational time think nothing of cutting back on hours of rest.
Children, and especially those of school age, and that includes the early grades right through university, have so much to fill their hours, with academics, social life and often part or full time jobs. Add to that the lure of movies, television and video games and little time remains for sleep. At an early age, children should be taught to make time for sleep. It's a habit that may carry through into adult life.
The work force experiences similar distractions. Hours of work increase from eight to ten or more. Often people bring more work home with them and stay up late to finish it. Weekends are eaten up by social life, parties, movies and all the many activities that add to the stress of daily life. Again, sleep often takes a back seat. Then Monday comes, workers drag themselves back to the job and the same cycle begins all over again.
One would think the elderly would finally find time to sleep, but it may be too late. Old habits die hard, and after years of skipping on sleep, they may suffer from insomnia. Other sleep disorders and illnesses also show up to rob them of sleep.
Why not make National Sleep Awareness Week a time to make a few changes in your sleep patterns? It's up to you. You'll find that, with adequate sleep, you'll feel better and get more accomplished.
The National Sleep Foundation has a few activities planned to help you get started. The text of their press release appears on the following page.
Get involved with sleep.
