Why is Sleep Important?
We often think of sleep as inactivity, when, in fact, our body is busy as can be. While we snooze, our body goes to work to repair all of the wear and tear we put it through during the day. Sleep is a time of restoration. Sleep is integral to our overall well-being. A lack of sleep can lead to “obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, poor mental health, and early death.” [1]
Experts say that the proper amount of sleep for adults is at least 7 hours. [1] But, getting the proper amount isn’t always as easy as just fluffing your pillow and closing your eyes. Many factors in our daily lives can lead to difficulty sleeping. David F. Dinges, Ph.D., Professor and Chief of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, says that “sleep deprivation can accumulate over time, resulting in a steady deterioration in alertness.” [2]
Who Ya Gonna Call? Sleep Coaches!
Have trouble with your heart? Go to the cardiologist? Have trouble losing weight? See a nutritionist and/or personal trainer. Have trouble sleeping? See a sleep coach!
Sleep coaches offer a multitude of solutions to sleep issues. Sleep coaches take a holistic approach. They look at a variety of factors that may be affecting your sleep. Some of these factors include taking a hard look at your sleep space, environmental factors, and current sleep habits. [3]
Some of the techniques sleep coaches use to better your sleep experience are:
- Adhering to a sleep schedule that fits your daily life
- Keeping your sleep space dark and free from noise
- Examine daily nutrition/exercise regimens (limiting caffeine, filling nutritional gaps)
- Addressing mental health and outside stressors, such as work and family life. [4]
Sleep coaches are not medical professionals, but they can still be a major asset in your journey to better and healthier sleep.
References
- Why do we need sleep? Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/why-do-we-need-sleep. Published March 11, 2022. Accessed August 8, 2022.
- Worley SL. The extraordinary importance of sleep: The detrimental effects of inadequate sleep on health and public safety drive an explosion of sleep research. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6281147/. Published December 2018. Accessed August 8, 2022.
- Consumer Reports. What is a sleep coach, and do you need one? Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/sleep/what-is-a-sleep-coach-and-do-you-need-one/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSleep%20coaches%E2%80%9D%20often%20visit%20your,Association%20of%20Professional%20Sleep%20Consultants. Accessed August 8, 2022.
- Become a sleep coach: 6 certification programs & methods. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/sleep-coach/. Published July 13, 2022. Accessed August 8, 2022.
