Sleep

Hello there. How's it going? Do you know what time it is? Duh! I don't want to waste a third of my life on sleeping.

True, you might get a few extra waking hours by not going to bed right now... - Mhm. - ... But do you have any idea what those extra hours are going to cost you? Sleep is important. Just look in nature. It seems all animals need sleep... ...

instead of using that time to get food, or make babies... ... or keep a watchful eye, so that they don't get eaten. If it hadn't been absolutely necessary to sleep, evolution would have done away with sleep a long time ago. But, the exact reason we sleep so much, has been a bit of a mystery to scientists for a long time. One way of figuring out more about what sleep does, is to study what happens to our bodies and brains when we sleep too little.

Because then, a lot of things start happening... You ready? Here they are: five things that happen to you if you don't get enough sleep! One: You get irritable, less creative and more impatient. Surely you noticed this yourself sometimes?

And no, energy drinks can't replace sleep. Two: You'll get ill. Really. Your immune system, responsible for killing off viruses and bacteria in your body, is a lot less effective when you don't sleep enough. This can be noticed even after a single night of too little sleep.

So, if you're feeling low, make sure to get enough sleep - so you'll have a better chance of staying well. Three: You get cravings for sweet stuff, and the risks of obesity and diabetes increase. Four: You'll experience life as more boring and sad. Because a tired brain, has for some reason an easier time remembering sad and horrible things, than those that are positive and fun. If you carry on sleeping too little, the risk of depression increases.

Five: You'll learn slower. Your brain uses sleep to sort the impressions, and kind of organise the memories. When you sleep well after learning something, you'll remember it better than if you don't sleep enough. So it's not only important to be alert when you're making an effort to take in new information. The sleep afterwards also helps learning and remembering.

This is true regardless of whether you are studying for a test or learning to play the guitar or ride a unicycle. This is especially true when you're learning a new skill, to do something. And when you are interpreting large amounts of information, and drawing conclusions. So, by sleeping a bit more, you can get better results in school, without having to study more! Not everybody needs exactly the same amount of sleep.

And we don't need the same amount at all ages. Teenagers normally need a bit more sleep than those who are slightly younger. Hormone levels change, the body grows quickly, and needs a lot of rest. Next school break, try this: Go to bed the same time every night, and don't set the alarm. After a while your body will find its own rhythm and wake up by itself at the same time every day.

Don't be surprised if it turns out you have to sleep nine or ten hours, to feel really rested. Another thing that happens when you're a teenager is that your circadian rhythm is offset. A lot of people would be better off if school started later. Teenagers are simply better suited to staying up late, than to getting up early. Hey there, good morning!

Slept well? Not enough perhaps? Luckily, you have another chance to get enough sleep... as soon as tonight.