Healthy sleeping
Passivity and sleep
Sleep is frequently considered to be a passive phenomenon, something we do because it’s the end of the day, we are perhaps tired and we need to rest and build up our energies once again to prepare for the next day. It’s falsely presumed that as the light is switched off at night, so also is the mind and all its functioning ability. Rightfully so, all of the above are true to a certain extent, and sleep replenishes zest and enthusiasm to live yet another day and accomplish ones daily goals. However, there is more to sleeping and the dynamics of sleep ought to be better understood by every person who has ever slept and continues to do so everyday. That makes each and everyone of us. Ignorance is bliss but knowledge is truly an eye opener.
Sleep enhances mental abilities
We don’t sleep because we desire passivity. Sleep is one of the most active processes the body endures. While in wakefulness, the human mind seems to think, plan, execute and appraise; but there are more processes that are vigorous during sleep. Memory processing and conversion of short-term to long-term remembrance mandates sleep. When one sleeps soundly, the neurons in the brain do not have external information bombarding in to disrupt the memory connects. CEOs are people who maintain work life balance, sleep better have healthier neurochemical release in their brains with greater neuronal connections; thus they enhance their own productivity and facilitate their own promotion.
Sleep prevents absenteeism
The white blood cells in the body are soldiers that build on its immune system. Sleep deprivation damages these cells thereby inhibiting immune function. Those who sleep more have higher white blood cell counts, better immunity and are equipped to combat allergies and colds. Lack of sleep is also associated with skin rashes, longer wound healing, increased appetite and weight disturbances and even predisposition to cancer. Inadequate sleep is an incessant drain of the body’s resistance and fighting abilities. All other efforts to care for the body are redundant in the absence of wholesome sleep. Better sleep facilitates better health, greater work performance and decreased absenteeism.
MINDFRAMES: Reframing sleep
The brain disengages itself from the wakeful responsibilities and opts for its ‘night duty’ while it sleeps. There are enough obligations for the slumbering as well as vigilant mind. In case of surgeons for instance, utmost vigilance is required in case of emergency surgeries in the night time. Pilots fly aircrafts all through the night. Each needs to make up for lost sleep. Some aquatic mammals sleep while moving (not the same as human beings who sleep while driving cars!), they still perform different activities in both the mind states. Sleep conserves energy, replenishes neurotransmitters, enhances certain hormonal activities and augments vigilance. There is a lot individuals and organizations gain from employees who sleep soundly and sufficiently. We’d rather make the prudent choice for successful individuals and organizations.