Grace Ochigbo
Learn the value of hard work by working hard but never wait to learn the value of good health. The body is like an easy-to-use machine that can only deliver optimally when handled with proper care and adequate rest. So, no matter how hard you work, find some time to sleep, relax the mind and ‘cool off’ the brain.
Good sleep is important on many counts. These are (but not restricted to) the fact that it improves concentration and productivity; reduces one’s risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 Diabetes; improves one’s immune function.
It is thrilling to know that sleep loss also reduces one’s ability to interact socially as much as it is true that poor sleep is linked to depression and even associated with an increased risk of death by suicide.
Now, how does it feel to find out that poor sleep can make one fat? Ouch! Matter of fact, poor sleep is strongly linked to weight gain. It’s been proved that short sleep duration is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity.
Therefore, always remember that in keeping fit, there are no shortcuts, only immense discipline and hard work. Hard work here requires fixing adequate sleep duration into your very tight schedules.
You are asking, how long should one sleep for?
Well, length of sleep depends on a few factors like genetic makeup, quality and depth of sleep, state of the sleeping arena as well as environmental factors.
Official recommendations for sleep duration are broken down by age groups below.
• Older adults (65+): 7-8hours
• Adults (18-64years): 7-9hours
• Teenagers (14-17years): 8-19hours
• School children (6-13years): 9-11hours
• Preschoolers (3-5years): 10-13hours
• Toddlers (1-2years): 11-14hours
• Infants (4-11months): 12-15hours
• Newborns (0-3months): 14-17hours
In summary, sleep is that golden chain that ties our health and our bodies together. Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, then plan.
