The Power Of Sleep – Why Sleep Is So Important
We spend about 1/3 of our lives sleeping, this fact by itself already shows us how important sleep is. Sleep has an important role in restoring vitality, preserving energy, and crystallizing memory. It's a basic and unquestionable need, yet nowadays its importance is underrated. It is very easy and even tempting to sleep less, to hang on social media, browse on the internet, or watch another show. With today's technology and lifestyles, it is harder to disconnect and rest, with artificial light, screens, and home entertainment. All these factors contribute to keeping us awake when we should actually be sleeping.
The possibility of being connected 24/7, working late, and all other forms of digital entertainment makes us continue working or hanging out way far after the sun goes down. Whether before we were synchronized by the sun, our sleeping patterns were directly correlated to day and night time. For some, sleeping is perceived as a waste of time or simply laziness, and it has a negative connotation. But the thing is just because you are able to tolerate sleep deprivation it doesn't mean that you don't need to sleep more. Think of it as fasting, just because we are able to go several hours without eating, it doesn't mean that we should do it for days. Also, the sleeping needs vary from person, life changes, and age. Nevertheless, the consequences of sleep deprivation are the same whether you have greater or lesser tolerance to it. Some of the effects are irritability, distraction, mood swings, change in appetite, and increased consumption of coffee or alcohol.
It is up to us to respect our needs and understand that sleeping is as important as breathing and eating. There are three key factors for a good sleeping routine. The first one is to get exposed to daylight and to be active, especially in the morning, like doing some exercise. Natural light has an important role in our sleeping patterns, the daylight tells our body when to wake up and when to rest, and exercise in the morning will also help us to feel awake and more energized. Secondly, is to avoid strong artificial light during the night. Before the invention of electricity, the human body relied on the day and night time to regulate the internal clock. And it is proven that the screens that we expose ourselves to at night are harmful to a good night's sleep. The third factor is having a schedule, there is no routine without a schedule, this will reinforce our natural sleeping pattern and make it easier to fall asleep naturally. Most people feel sleepy or tired around 10 to 11 PM but ignore this sign, ending up awake by midnight or passing that time. This doesn't mean that you're a night owl, this only means that you missed the sleep train.
Having an Amethyst in the bedroom is also a good idea for improving sleep. This beautiful, violet stone has been popular since ancient times for numerous reasons. It is a gorgeous violet-colored quartz that is mostly found in cavities of volcanic rock. Amethyst boosts the production of hormones while it tunes the endocrine system and your metabolism. The stone also strengthens and cleanses your organs and immune system. Amethyst relieves physical, emotional, and psychological pain or stress. The stone also reduces bruising, swelling, hearing disorders, skin conditions and helps provide a night of restful sleep.
Check out this article for more tips for a good night's sleep.