There is a time to be awake and alert, and there is a time to sleep. Sounds logical, but how much notice do you and I really take of this simple key to health

Perhaps one of the most overlooked keys to sharpening your brain is to make sure you get the right amount of sleep.

If you have been reading these articles, you will have noticed that I try to post an article every day from Monday to Saturday, but last week there was no post on Friday (nor was there one on the previous Friday).

Why? I discovered that when you are overtired inspiration does not come as easily.

During the past two weeks my schedule has consisted of lots of very early mornings (for work). At the same time, I try to keep my “normal” schedule of reading, writing and listening to audios in the evenings, which has not been working as planned.

My thought for today is:

In our modern society where there is is always so much to do, this is probably a trap we have all fallen into.

There are some very real scientifically proven benefits in getting the sleep that you and I need.

Here are four benefits of sleep as found in the health section of the website – How Stuff Works

• Sleep gives the body a chance to repair muscles and other tissues, replace aging or dead cells.
• Sleep gives the brain a chance to organize and archive memories. Dreams are thought by some to be part of this process.
• Sleep lowers our energy consumption, so we need three meals a day rather than four or five. Since we can’t do anything in the dark anyway, we might as well “turn off” and save the energy.
• According to ScienceNewsOnline: Napless cats awaken interest in adenosine, sleep may be a way of recharging the brain, using adenosine as a signal that the brain needs to rest: “Since adenosine secretion reflects brain cell activity, rising concentrations of this chemical may be how the organ gauges that it has been burning up its energy reserves and needs to shut down for a while.” Adenosine levels in the brain rise during wakefulness and decline during sleep.

Interesting research for sure. I am sure that you already know that sleep is essential for both your brain and body, but it is always good to be reminded of this now and again right?

I am vey much a night owl, and so when my schedule demands very early mornings, I know I need to be reminded of this simple (but often missing) key to health and success:

Follow kitty’s example and get some sleep!

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