There are a lot of people who don’t prioritize nor value sleep. If you were to ask 100 people wether or not if they feel as though they get enough rest at night, majority would probably say no. What they don’t understand are the benefit and overall good that the proper sleep does for your body and mind. It probably sounds redundant, but first you have to truly understand what sleep is.  

Sleep is a naturally recurring state of mind and body, characterized by altered consciousness, relatively inhibited sensory activity, reduced muscle activity and inhibition of nearly all voluntary muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and reduced interactions with surroundings. Sleep is one of the most vital important things our bodies must have! Sleep allows our entire body to recharge.  Sleep can be compared to a car battery. Sleep allows your mind to reset, your body to heal. There are 4-5 stages of sleep each with a different purpose throughout your sleep cycle.  The sleep cycle repeats itself several times throughout the night. 

 We asked Nasiara Jones, a student at Akron University, what her opinion on sleep and how it benefits her. She said that, “I need sleep to function throughout my day, if I don’t get enough sleep the night before, then class,work, or any other tasks I have that next day are so much harder.” Not getting enough sleep overall will affect your learning and focus, prevent your creativity, interfere with you making rational decisions, and or controlling your emotions.  As you can see, getting enough and proper rest is extremely important for a student at any age.  Being a student involves learning and being able to put to use what you have learned now and in the future, and Ms. Jone‘s testimony proves just that. 

We also asked Quinaya Moore, A licensed CNA, on what negative effects does lack of sleep have on the body. She said, “lack of sleep in most cases can cause mood swings, loss of concentration, and reduced memory/critical thinking. Lack of sleep not only affects you physically, but mentally as well. Lack of sleep can greatly affect concentration and focus. The less sleep you get, the more it’s impacted. Getting the right amount of sleep does so much good for your body, the results are night and day. 

More states, “ when your getting the right amount of sleep, it gives a boost to your immune system, increase memory and exercise performance, and leave you in a overall better mood.” Moore knows the positives that come with proper sleep, and she’s not alone. “Sleep services all aspects of our body in one way or another: molecular, energy balance, as well as intellectual function, alertness and mood,” says Dr. Merrill Mitler, a sleep expert and neuroscientist at NIH. When you’re tired, you can’t function at your best. Sleep helps you think more clearly, have quicker reflexes and focus better. “The fact is, when we look at well-rested people, they’re operating at a different level than people trying to get by on 1 or 2 hours less nightly sleep,” says Mitler.

 Although personal needs vary, on average, adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Babies typically sleep about 16 hours a day. Young children need at least 10 hours of sleep, while teenagers need at least 9 hours. To attain the maximum restorative benefits of sleep, getting a full night of quality sleep is important. Sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Healthy sleep also helps the body remain healthy and stave off diseases. Without enough sleep, the brain cannot function properly. A good nights rest is like hitting nature’s reset button, leaving you rested and feeling brand new once you wake up. 

I asked Mr. Kavaghn Robinson, a student athlete at Bluffton University, on if sleep was important to him and why? To which he replied, “being a student and an athlete are already hard enough, you usually are busy with tasks from early in the morning to late in the evening, and that’s on a normal day. I have to make sure i get as much rest as possible or I won’t be able to function properly and be the best player i can be.” He also said, “ a long day of classes is already draining, so when I don’t get enough sleep the night before, I can always tell the next day at practice, I’m just a lot more sluggish and a lot less attentive on the field.” 

In conclusion, sleep is important and essential to the health and productivity of everyone. Getting the proper sleep will leave you more productive, more alert, and even healthier. Proper rest can even increase your performance at school and work, just dint oversleep through them, this is Jalen Bankston from TV2.

https://www.sclhealth.org/blog/2018/09/the-benefits-of-getting-a-full-night-sleep/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/top-health-benefits-of-a-good-nights-sleep-2223766