In today’s fast-paced environment that features job pressure, social obligations, and competition, sleep often takes a backseat. Its significance, however, cannot be emphasised enough. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 62% of individuals worldwide do not get enough sleep, which is defined as 7-9 hours per night for adults. Sleep deprivation is a public health epidemic rather than merely a minor annoyance. We spoke to Sakshi Shah, Founder of GoodLives, Gurgaon to understand the importance of sleep in our life.
Sakshi highlighted that sleep and mental health have a particularly important relationship.
According to a thorough study conducted in 2023 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who consistently get less than six hours of sleep each night are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from anxiety and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, 90% of individuals with depression also experience poor sleep, including hypersomnia or insomnia, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
The aforementioned data highlights a vicious cycle: insufficient sleep causes mental health issues, which in turn causes further sleep disturbances.
Despite the alarming data, our culture still places a low value on sleep despite these concerning statistics. Lack of sleep is often worn as a badge of honour by many, an erroneous declaration of dedication and productivity. But the research is clear: the body and mind cannot perform at their best without enough sleep.
5 Reasons Why Sleep Is Important
Here are the reasons why sleep is important:
Sleep Impacts Emotional Health
Sakshi highlighted that sleep is an active, restorative process that is crucial for mental health; it is not only a condition of rest. The brain performs vital processes while we sleep, including processing emotions, consolidating memories, and eliminating toxins like beta-amyloid, which has been connected to Alzheimer's disease.
According to a 2022 study in Nature Communications, those who suffer from long-term sleep deprivation have up to 60% increased reactivity in the amygdala, the area of the brain that processes emotions. This increased responsiveness raises vulnerability to anxiety disorders and makes stress management more difficult. Additionally, after getting too little sleep, the brain's decision-making region, the prefrontal cortex, loses some of its ability to control emotional reactions.
Lack Of Sleep Can Lead To Depression
Sakshi said that depression and sleep are also closely related. Both a symptom and a contributing element to depressive illnesses are thought to be insomnia. The reciprocal association between depression and sleeplessness is demonstrated by studies that suggest that treating insomnia can improve depressive outcomes by as much as 50%.
Lack Of Sleep Impacts Daily Life
According to Sakshi, inadequate sleep at night can make you feel drowsy when you get up and need an extra cup of coffee to stay awake. By mid-afternoon, you're lethargic and finding it difficult to focus on things that you usually do with ease. You become impatient and social engagements seem like a job. These minor annoyances accumulate over time and affect both your physical and mental well-being.
Sakshi highlighted that our brain uses sleep as a reset button. Your mind purges pollutants that build up during the day, analyses emotions, and solidifies memories as you sleep. You're denying your brain the opportunity to repair and rejuvenate when you routinely deprive yourself of sleep.
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Sleep And Cognitive Impairment
Sakshi mentioned that lack of sleep has a significant negative impact on cognition. Sleep deprivation affects attention, decision-making, and problem-solving skills just as much as being legally intoxicated, according to the CDC. People who sleep less than six hours a night perform 20–30% poorer on cognitive tasks than those who receive eight hours, according to a Stanford University study.
Sleep Can Prevent Neurodegenerative Disorders
Sakshi highlighted that proper sleep can prevent neurodegenerative disorders. According to research from the University of Rochester, sleep increases the activity of the brain's glymphatic system, which removes waste. Insufficient sleep causes toxic compounds to build up, raising the risk of diseases like dementia.
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Sleep is a biological necessity, not a luxury. Neglecting sleep has far-reaching effects on mental health, emotional stability, and cognitive function in addition to causing drowsiness and exhaustion.
Image Courtesy: Freepik
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