As I have tried to work my way through the last week of the school year with as much grace as possible (read = hardly any grace), my sleep patterns have become increasingly unstable, increasingly unpredictable, and downright pathetic. As a person prone to using sleep as a wonderful relaxation tool and mode of escape, I am embarrassed to report that I am beyond sleep deprived.
Sleep deprivation has been linked with all sorts of issues, such as:
- depression
- weight gain
- incontinence
- fatigue
- anxiety
- lack of focus/ attention issues
- anger issues
- loss of productivity
And, yet, our society pushes us, we push ourselves to keep up with society, and as we push ourselves to stay up later and accomplish more, a strange thing begins to happen.
As we increase our workload and the hours we dedicate, we start to decrease our work productivity. Fatigued workers are NOT good workers….. they are not diligent and strong, they are not alert enough to pay attention to details…….
So, what is my advice? First, get in touch with your own body and its unique needs. Do you function best on 8 hours of sleep, 6 or 10? What is the discrepancy between the hours your body needs you to sleep and the reality of how many hours you actually do sleep? Second, fix the discrepancy. If you are not getting enough sleep you have to make the effort to ensure that you will get enough sleep to function well in this world the next day.
Today, 244 days ’til 40, I am aware of my sleep patterns – I will remind myself that sleep helps increase my workload and keep me happy!
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
stephenedwards425
June 22, 2012 at 00:21
I believe your cat must be related to my cat…she is a great sleeper.
Over 50 years of suffering from insomnia…have tried it all…insomnia still my nearly constant companion…have heard heroin addicts sleep well…now if I can just get over the look of collapsed veins and needle tracks up and down my arms… 🙂
Be encouraged
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 22:02
Yes, I love my cat. As for sleep, There was a time I was on a tri-cyclic antidepressant, wow, that really made me sleep!
bellissimom
June 22, 2012 at 00:26
As a new mom my answer to this question is a resounding no. It is amazing how much it impacts my mood & brain function. There is a reason noted proving someone of sleep I a form of depression!
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 22:00
Yes, if you do not get enough sleep it definitely causes depression (I personally think that is what causes post-partum depression.
buckwheatsrisk
June 22, 2012 at 00:33
i wish i could sleep well…i used to be able to now it is touch and go..i haven’t slept well in close to a week…yawn…:)
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:59
Oh no, hang in there!
buckwheatsrisk
June 22, 2012 at 22:12
i slept last night!
SkiDaddy
June 22, 2012 at 00:50
I said before, bloggers anonymous would help. Could it be that maintaining this pace is challenging?
For what it’s worth my thoughts are with you.
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:59
Hmm, maybe I do need that bloggers anonymous meeting! 🙂
ghfool
June 22, 2012 at 01:28
If I work real late, then I have trouble sleeping. My brain needs some time to unwind before hitting the hay. So I read or watch a little TV no matter how late it is, becasue if I don’t then it won’t matter because I will be alternating between staring at the inside of eyelids and the ceiling all night. Bottom line is, RELAX before going to bed.
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:59
AHH, I am the same way – I am so jealous of those who can come home, fall into bed and fall asleep – it can take me HOURS to unwind and turn my brain off enough to sleep (blogging helps!) 🙂
marychrisescobar
June 22, 2012 at 01:31
I love the concept of your blog and am so impressed with your daily postings! Thanks for the good reminder about sleep and for stopping by my blog today.
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:58
Thanks so much, and for the surprise drop in to my blog! 🙂
thelastsongiheard
June 22, 2012 at 09:06
I need a minimum of six… I usually get about six and a half or maybe seven sometimes… but my working hours are all over the place so I don’t really get a set schedule…
…and why do cats always smile when they’re asleep? What do you think they’re dreaming of?
Birds. I dream of birds too, but not the feathered kind… 😀
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:58
Hmm… I do wonder what my cats dream of when they sleep – I usually think they are chasing something… 🙂
The Quiet Borderline (back in hospital)
June 22, 2012 at 12:35
Cute kitty cat.
I will vouch at how important sleep is, having insomnia for 2 years now has been crazy tough!
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:57
Thanks! I love my cat – and it stinks that you have had insomnia for so long – how awful…. how do you manage?
viveka
June 22, 2012 at 12:38
Sleep … I think the body tells us if we sleep enough or not … 6 hours I can survive on, but because I don’t work anymore .. once in a while the body just take 8. They say that the older we get .. the less sleep we need – and I start to believe them. Have a great weekend.
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:57
I am the same – I can survive on six, at least for some time, but eventually I need to crash with at least 8-10 to make up for lost sleep.
dragonflyquiltworks
June 22, 2012 at 13:35
Is this your kitty? So cute!
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:56
Yes, it is one of three we have 🙂
Waldo "Wally" Tomosky
June 22, 2012 at 14:23
No, I am not getting enough sleep. However that does not mean I am depressed. And I always gain weight this time of year – – – from drinking beer due to the heat. I don’t think it is the loss of sleep that makes me incontinent – – – I think it is from too much beer. And it also makes me fatiqued. No anxiety problems here (why are you always asking me that question – – – am I acting a little strange?). You can see from this reply that I am very focused and pay attention to what appears in the written word. Now don’t get me irked, annoyed, displeased, weary, fretsome, irritated, vexed,nettled or peaved; you don’t want to see me when I am angry. But it is not from lack of sleep – – – it is the voices. And I am very productive. It is right there on my resume “VERY PRODUCTIVE”; documented for all to see.
Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!
{Probably a little lol may help at this point}
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:56
Thanks for making me laugh!!! 🙂
Spider42
June 22, 2012 at 15:19
I never get enough sleep… long standing dilemma!
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:55
a dilema for so many of us!!!
Spider42
June 22, 2012 at 15:21
…and if sleep “helps increase my workload” as you point out, I might not want to change my lifestyle because who wants MORE work? 😀
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:55
Too funny!!!
evilnymphstuff
June 22, 2012 at 15:58
I get some problems with sleep – it’s so true that society demands so much now that we tend to sleep less but then I feel soo… unproductive. And that’s bad… very bad…
Anyway have to try to get more sleep ^^ Great post!
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:55
ME too!
Kinenchen
June 22, 2012 at 18:29
I got an UP band by Jawbone. It tells you how much sleep you’re getting, whether it’s deep or light, for how long and then rates the quality. I got mine used and it was a pretty good deal… but new it’s pricey. Had you considered it?
400daystil40
June 22, 2012 at 21:54
Wow, I have never even heard of one.
sued51
June 23, 2012 at 00:30
I love the cat photos!
Don’t forget that sometimes we think we are getting the hours of sleep we need, but sleep apnea can affect how we feel…
400daystil40
June 23, 2012 at 23:33
Thanks! Yes, that is our youngest cat (age 3). Good point about sleep apnea – my father suffered from that!
thelittlebeardogblog
June 23, 2012 at 10:53
I can so relate to this. We bought a super king bed and my sleep has really improved. I’m still not getting enough of it, but at least the sleep I do get is comfortable and I don’t get up aching and grumpy – actually, that’s a fib, I still get up grumpy! 🙂
400daystil40
June 23, 2012 at 23:28
Ah, such a very good point! The type of bed makes all the difference in the world! I once had a horrific mattress and could not sleep for months until I finally broke down and bought a harder, more supportive mattress. Now I am very biased towards King Koil because of the extra chiropractic support, it has changed my sleep!
Lucianus Mauricius
June 24, 2012 at 12:05
With this heat wave we’ve been having, it’s been a nightmare trying to fall asleep and stay asleep, so now I doze off at work in my keyboard which is not good, but what can you do, a heat wave is a heat wave and we don’t know yet when it’s gonna end so sleep and “other” things are out of the question, unless over medication works, any ideas?
400daystil40
June 25, 2012 at 00:32
Yea, I understand that – heat is awful for sleep….. I would talk to your doc about sleep meds – there are quite a few out there and can make a big difference… you may alos need to be checked for sleep apnea – hang in there~
Lucianus Mauricius
June 25, 2012 at 04:08
My doc suspected of that long ago, but never followed through, now it’s too late, unless I switch countries
400daystil40
June 25, 2012 at 13:45
Why? The country you are in cannot follow up?
Lucianus Mauricius
June 25, 2012 at 15:25
not unless u go to a private clinic