Be Sure to Get Enough Rest
By the staff of Heartland Human Services
According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), nearly 25% of all Americans have a hard time getting up for work two or more days per week. This is not a surprising statistic if we take into consideration that the average person gets a little less than seven hours of sleep each night while experts tell us that we need a solid eight hours. Adding to this source of sleep deprivation is an increasingly common problem with insomnia. A recent NSF survey found 58% of adults have suffered from insomnia.
Insomnia includes trouble falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and/or waking up to early. Common causes of insomnia include stress, illness, poor sleep habits, working second or third shifts, and anxiety. Failing to get enough sleep for any reason is very serious-it can lead to difficulty fighting illness, depression, and injury. The US National Highway Safety Administration estimates that around 100,000 car crashes each year involve a drowsy driver.
Suggestions for getting a better night's sleep include the following: exercise (but not within 3 hours of bedtime), relax before bed by reading, a hot bath, or soothing music, and try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. It is also wise to avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine in the evening. If these tactics are not enough, see your doctor for a check-up and further advice.