Monday health tip on Daily Inspiration Board
A new study has confirmed what we already know, deep down. A report, published by Science magazine on June 6 2014, has found that sleep “has a key role in promoting learning-dependent synapse formation and maintenance on selected dendritic branches, which contribute to memory storage.”
Put simply, sleep helps your memory. Among other benefits, I’m sure. However, it’s now confirmed by research that a lack of sleep equals a less enabled memory storage system. What does this mean for your mind and your performance on a daily basis? Well, a lot. Let me tell you a little, recent story.
On Friday evening, I had an extremely fitful night’s sleep as I was about to travel up to Queensland to visit with my grandfather, who isn’t very well. There was a bunch of reasons why I didn’t sleep well but come Saturday, when I had to travel, I was absolutely exhausted. Not only was my mood tinkering on the edge of irritation for the duration of the day, but my mind was functioning fairly sporadically. I found it difficult to listen to people for extended periods of time, or to focus that much. My mind simply didn’t want to focus on anything. I wasn’t literally falling asleep as I was fairly wired on caffeine, having tried to make up for the lack of sleep with several coffees throughout the day. But I was definitely not functioning on optimum levels. Being so exhausted, I of course slept for nine hours that night and woke up the next morning feeling far calmer, my mind functioning in a far more efficient and normal manner, and all in all I felt much more able to think and listen for long periods the way I normally would.
Then, I read about this sleep study (or study on a lack of it) and it really resonated with me. I’ve read that nowadays, many of us in the western world function on less than the recommended seven to eight hours’ sleep a night – largely due to technology. What does this mean for our memory, our cognition, our mood, and our health? If we’re all functioning on a lack of sleep, how can we perform our jobs to the best of our ability, and also be strong enough to deal with the multitude of situations, difficult personalities and circumstances life throws us on top of our day-to-day lives? I would put it to you that we simply can’t. And for that we put ourselves under undue suffering.
Media mogul Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post and one of the most revered businesswomen in the world, has recently written a book called Thrive. In it she talks about the power of sleep and how if you really want to live a successful and happy life, you must turn off the phone and get a good night’s sleep. Check out her Ted X talk on it here. I think Arianna knows a thing or two about success, and also about lack of sleep.
The thing is, in order to function at optimum levels and be the successful person you want to be, you have to take care of yourself first. There is no point to martyrdom, or putting others first as you think it’s in their best interest. For the people around you, their best interest is to see you flourish and do well so that you can help them too.
Make a promise to yourself right now that you will always put yourself first. Then, put it into action by first getting a good night’s sleep – starting tonight.
What happens when you lack sleep? Leave your comments below! Bec x