Fewer People Getting Enough Sleep
In 1998, 35 percent of people reported they slept 8 or more hours. In 2005, the number was 26 percent.
Over 40 percent of people state they sleep less than 6 hours per night, well below the hours recommended for optimal health and performance.
Finally, less than 50 percent report getting a good night’s sleep and 75 percent report symptoms of sleep problems. (National Sleep Foundation)
It’s no wonder that prescription sleep medication is advertised so heavily on TV. The ads make it so appealing: gentle drugs that allow you to drift off to sleep and sleep through the night. Leave your worries behind!
For most people the problem is that they cannot turn-off their brains and drift off to sleep naturally. People are consumed with the myriad of entertainment options or needless worries. The Internet is addicting and there’s too much going on for people to turn away. With more homes connected via high speed Internet access, video sites are popular and more entertaining than regular TV. Add to that instant messaging and gaming, you have a combination that goes on like the battery maker’s pink bunny.
People worry too much mainly because they have created too much debt. They buy starter castles that create monthly payments that used to be the bulk of a year’s salary 20 years ago. Instead of buying to meet needs, people buy out of wants. No doubt that excessive debt will keep you awake at nights.
Sleep is also affected by diet and exercise. Too much sugar and caffeine throws the body out of balance and organs are constantly working to deal with processing the excess sugar and stimulants. Smoking constricts blood vessels, again causing the body to work harder to function properly. All these self-indulgent practices are taking their toll on sleep and longevity.
The daily lack of exercise means that a person’s muscles are fully loaded and ready for action. Instead of a natural winding down that the body cycles through each day, it is still on alert waiting for physical work. Lack of exercise also means that those excess sugars are not being burned for energy and instead being converted to fat.
The lack of sleep has been shown to hurt business productivity. After all, at some point, people will dose and lose concentration possibly leading to an injury. Teachers see red eyes and lethargy among students in the classroom. It’s no wonder that reading scores are so low. It’s hard to concentrate and learn comprehension when you are sleepy.
Lack of sleep is also dangerous. Studies have shown how people “micro-sleep” to rest the brain. Unfortunately, this micro-sleep may occur while driving a car. A recent highway safety report stated that pedestrians were killed at a higher rate than in any time in recent reporting periods. There’s a good chance many of those people were killed by sleepy or sleeping drivers.
Lack of sleep is a self-induced problem. Hence, people can cure themselves without the need for sleep medication. First, reduce or eliminate the constant sipping of colas and dessert coffees. Second, switch to healthier eating such as salads and whole grain foods. Third, exercise daily (walking, bicycling) for about 30 minutes. Fourth, stop smoking if that applies to you. Fifth, set up a routine bedtime and wake-up times. It is important to be consistent. And, sixth, limit your time spent with entertainment; be sure to shut it down at least one hour before bedtime.
A final note: single working parents spend much of their week exhausted from work and trying to raise their family. They are so tired that quality sleep may elude them and the hours seem to blend together. They probably wish that playing on the Internet was their problem! If you fall into this dilemma, find a way to build downtime in your daily schedule at least one hour before bedtime. If everything didn’t get done, make sure that the necessities are complete and forget the rest. If possible, delegate some tasks to your family and have them help you find some time for yourself.
Ignoring the need for sleep will make you less productive and less capable of handling daily stress. It will cause excessive irritability and may cause you to lose your friends and annoy your loved ones. Slow down and enjoy your dreams!
School Choice Follow Up
In a story reported in USA Today (08/23/06), charter schools, based on standardized tests, are no better in math and reading scores than public schools. In fact, the data indicates charter schools are slightly behind their public school rivals.
US Education Secretary Margaret Spellings stated that charter schools are relatively new and need more time to show improvement. What? The government offers school vouchers for students stuck in under-performing public schools to attend charter schools that are under-performing public schools! This is an answer?
Why do charter schools need more time to show improvement? Don’t they follow the same curricula rigors and teacher standards as public schools? There’s a perfect illustration of government BS.
By the way, there are 3600 charter schools serving over 1 million students or about 2 percent of the total student population. Do you suspect that these schools will “run their course” and disappear by 2010? Right now there are two to three times more students being home schooled and that number is estimated to grow to more than 10 million over the next decade.
Education has become a battleground defined by passionate supporters for each cause that believe their way is the right way. The losers are the students who need an educational system that prepares them for more uncertainties than realities. They need a future not a past.
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