The simple answer as you know it is yes, we do need sleep to function. This article is for all of my workaholic friends out there who don’t think sleep is important or necessary. I’m not here to lecture you on how sleep is important or why you need it and all because you already know that. Now that I have cleared that let’s look at a few things.
Before I continue, check out The Legends of the Russian Sleep Experiment as it was an interesting experiment conducted to see what sleep-deprived people can do. Now, I will say I’m not very certain of how legitimate it is but you get the gist of it.
Why should we sleep?
There are many unknown reasons as to why we need sleep but one important factor is biology. We know that food and water are essentials to survive, but if you don’t sleep for even a day it can affect your mental and physical health.
Sleep does affect your mental health as they go hand in hand. Sleep disturbance contributes to the progression of mental health and mental health can affect sleep.
Let’s get a little into the science of it, sleep helps in energy conservation, as our metabolic rate drops, restores energy and repairs cells. Research has shown that sleep contributes to memory functions by turning the short term memory to long term memory and removes unwanted information. Even the nerve cells communicate and reorganize which supports a healthy brain function.
The amygdala in our brain is the emotional rapid response centre, when we are well rested it will react appropriately but when you’re sleep deprived it can overreact. It’s not just negative emotions but we are more reactive across the spectrum of positive and negative emotions.
When we sleep our body makes ‘cytokines’ which are proteins that fight infection and inflammation. This is why we need to sleep when we are sick or stressed.
What happens when we sleep?
Our brain cycles through 2 types of sleep that is Non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and REM sleep. Together they make a single cycle where our brain goes through these 4 stages,
Stage 1 & 2- Between being awake and falling asleep. Light sleep, your body temperature drops and heart rate will slow down, muscles start to relax.
Stage 3 & 4- Deep sleep. This sleep is important to feel refreshed. Here the brain waves and eye movement increase, your heart rate and breathing speed up.
Stage R- REM sleep. Eyes move from side to side, Dreams take place in this stage and it’s important for learning and memory.
How much sleep do we need?
In an ideal world, we must get 7-8 hours of sleep but with today’s busy schedules people barely get 5-6 hours of sleep. Sleep requirements vary from person to person. Some may think they can work perfectly on just 2 or 3 hours of sleep but that can be harmful as such little sleep can decrease cognitive functioning and decision making.

The quality of sleep one gets is also important, if you’re tired even after sleeping for 6-7 hours then you haven’t had a good nights sleep. You may not be working your best with a minimal amount of sleep
How to get better sleep

Have a schedule: Since we are quarantine it can be difficult to have a proper schedule. Earlier we had a routine to sleep and get up at a certain time but that is difficult in the current situation. However, falling asleep at a certain time every day can help your internal clock to tune off when it is time to sleep. Once your body adjusts it will be easier to fall asleep. This has personally helped me get into a routine.
Sleep in cooler temperature: Sleeping in a cooler room helps your body cool down to reach a better and a deeper level of sleep.
Have a warm bath: Having a warm bath 1 or 2 hours before you sleep can help relax your muscles and calm you down as it lowers your body temperature.
Reduce noise and darken rooms: Both these can help you fall asleep much easier at night as they help your body unwind from the day’s events. Earplugs or white noise can help you get better quality sleep if you live in a noisy area.
Now, I know this may not change your mind about improving your sleeping habits. I’m sure you knew the many cons of not getting enough sleep but I still thought I should put this out there. Getting good quality sleep can help you improve the quality of work and even put you in a better mood.
Bottom line is sleep is important, you can choose to ignore this or give it a try, the choice is yours.
Thanks for the information, I have learned that taking High Potency Reishi Spore Triterpene Crystals made in the USA helps a lot in stimulating and strengthening the immune system and reducing stress. Also to calm anxiety and sleep well.