The Importance of Sleep and its Benefits
In this article, you will learn about the importance of sleep and its benefits. Today, as we live in a 24*7 world, where sleep eludes us long past midnight forcing us to sleep much after dawn, sleep disorders have become extremely common. Ironically, India – a land of the wise sages were waking up at ‘Brahma Muhurata’ was a general norm, has fallen trap to the erratic routine led by the millennials.
What can Sleep Deprivation Lead To
As the sleep burden accumulates, it results in various physical and psychological effects, some of which are visible immediately, while some are felt over elongated periods.
Sleep deprivation causes lethargy and unwillingness to perform daily activities, migraine, morning headaches, anxiety, obesity, heart diseases, memory issues and more. On the lifestyle and emotional front, a bad sleeping regime can be the reason for reduced sexual drive, relationship troubles, increase in alcohol consumption, poor performance at the workplace and inability to concentrate on anything. Regarding this Counsellors in Delhi For Depression will do a great job.
So, what should we do? How does sleeping well really help? what is the right time to sleep and wake up, and the number of hours we should sleep?
A Good Sleeping Routine
Ideally, every adult should sleep for 7-9 hours (as per research by National Sleep Foundation US, 2015). Infants, toddlers and teenagers need more sleep than this which ranges between 10-16 hours. As per ancient Hindi Scriptures, starting your day early during ‘Brahma Muhurata’ will help in staring the day in a delightful way. ‘Brahma Muharata’ refers to the time of Lord Brahma or one of pure consciousness, which begins before sunrise.
One must Wake up about half an hour to an hour before sunrise, a time when energy levels peak up and the environment helps you to attain a state of peace and eternal bliss. This is the best time to meditate, perform auspicious tasks and jump up to a higher level of consciousness.
Similarly, the best time to sleep is between 10 – 11 p.m. One- it will help you get up early, and two- you will be able to sleep better. As per Ayurveda, one should sleep during ‘Kapha’ time (9 p.m- 12 p.m). Staying awake beyond this will lead to Pitta imbalance in your body which is related to a lot of disorders and diseases including gastritis, acidity, early ageing, greying of hairs, skin disorders, etc.
What Happens as we Sleep?
Enough about a healthy sleeping routine. Let us now understand why should one sleep at all. All of us undergo 5 stages of sleep, from light sleep to very deep sleep, each varying in sleep quality, body activities, eye movements, dreams we see, body temperature and use of energy.
The Points Mentioned Below Highlight the Importance of Sleep and Explains what the body goes through as we sleep:-
-The Body releases Growth Hormones that help us Grow and Repair Damaged Tissues
-Memory is Restored and Brain Function is Controlled and Enhanced
-Body temperature Lowers Down
-Energy is conserved to helps us go through another tiring day
-Immune System is Strengthened
-The functioning of Blood Vessels and all organs in our body are Restored
-Weight and Appetite are Controlled
-Blood Glucose Levels are Regulated
Hope, that this article will convince you to get back on the old saying, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise’. Happy Sleeping!