Three facts you need to know about sleep that will change your perspective

I remember, when I started my career as a lawyer – few moons ago – the so many nights spent in the office working on big financial transactions. Often until after midnight to be back on the case early in the morning. 

Sometimes without even getting any sleep at all. Locked in the office working round-the-clock. And then keeping on going as per BAU (=Business As Usual) the next day.

That was pretty much the norm. That was the expectation.

Everybody was doing it, all my friends and colleagues. If you weren’t doing it, it meant you didn’t have enough work. And that meant you were not good enough – but this is not what we’re going to talk about today, another time maybe.

And that was it. The beginning and the end. Our entire world.

At that age your body is more resilient and its capacity of recuperating is much higher.

And there was always someone bragging about the fact they didn’t need to sleep that much. After all, sleeping is just a waste of time! Three or four hours of sleep per night, even two (!), were enough for them to be recharged and fully operational the next day.

Well. That’s not my case. And it wasn’t back then. 

As mentioned in one of the speeches I’ve recently delivered at the Best You Expo in London, I can’t function properly when I’m tired, when I haven’t had enough sleep. 

It takes me much longer to do things that I would normally do in the blink of an eye. I have to read a simple sentence over and over before being able to understand it – and sometimes it doesn’t even work! and I end up reading that same sentence forever without being able to retain any basic information. 

I’m grumpy and edgy when I’m tired. I crave sugar and food all the time, just for the sake of it. And then, it gets out of control. 

I bet this happens to you too.

Now if you’re someone who sleeps less than seven hours per night, you should review your sleeping schedule.

Truth is: sleep plays a very important role in our health and well-being. Period. It’s a fact. 

Constant lack of sleep can lead to (serious) illnesses. It’s not casual that sleep deprivation was used as a form of torture back in the days. 

Yet for many it’s challenging to get a god night’s sleep and wake up fully rested the next morning.

Here’s three facts you need to know about sleep.

Fact#1 – Quality & Quantity

A key thing about sleep is that quality and quantity are both equally important.

When it comes down to a good night’s sleep, quality encompasses quantity. This means that there is a certain number of hours we, as human beings, need to sleep per night in order for our vital functions to be replenished.

Let’s work out some numbers then.

We are all different and there’s no one size fits all rule. However, generally speaking, an adult needs between seven and nine hours of sleep per night to fully rest and recharge their batteries.

→ Work out your numbers and, based on what time you need to wake up in the morning, reverse-engineer at what time you need to be asleep. 

Fact#2 – Did you know that our brain performs a self-cleaning function when we sleep?

Studies suggests that when we’re asleep our brain cleanses itself and wipes out the toxins that build up while we’re awake.

Now, clearly this is not a five minute job.

Therefore, we need to allow the right number of sleeping hours every night so that our brain can thoroughly perform its self-cleaning function. 

How do you know whether your brain self-cleaning has been thorough?

Well, if you wake up tired in the morning. If you wake up feeling slow and foggy. Chances are you haven’t allowed your brain enough sleeping time for cleaning.

Incidentally, studies suggest there is a connection between sleep disorders and certain deceases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. More food for thought.

→ Ensure you get the right amount of night’s sleep so your brain can thoroughly self-clean.

Fact#3 – Your sleeping environment matters

How much technology, how many different kinds of electrical appliances are in your bedroom? How many of them are absolutely necessary? 

Studies have shown that:

(i) electro magnetic frequency radiations can disrupt your sleep; and

(ii) stop scrolling (your phone, tablet, kindle) at least half an hour to an hour before going to bed improves your night’s sleep.

Do you have room darkening shades in your bedroom? We all know about the pineal gland and how light sensitive it is. A pitch black bedroom would support your pineal gland’s natural biorhythm and production of melatonin. 

→ Count the number of electrical appliances in your bedroom – all of them, that includes lights, sockets, kindle, everything – and determine how many of them are absolutely necessary.

Then email me your findings at marina@marinabruni.com, I’d love to hear from you

Dr Marina Bruni, JD

Global Brain Activation Strategist