Would You Like to be Happier, Healthier, and More Energetic? Sleep on it!

Beginning with today’s WELL Street blog, content will be delivered each week that will provide a fun and healthy “challenge” for individuals, families, groups, and workplaces to be happier, healthier, and more energetic. A challenge makes living a healthy style a shared experience. Spouses can challenge each other. A group of friends or an entire family can participate in a challenge, and take turns picking the challenge activity. Finally, workplaces can benefit from the camaraderie and competitiveness that challenges create to promote healthy lifestyles. I will share challenge ideas and you decide what works for you or your group. The key is to have fun and have as many winners as possible. Short challenges of a week, or a month, are more focused and effective. Reward winners with a healthy potluck lunch, or simply recognize them publicly for their effort.

The first weekly challenge is to get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep each night. The benefits of getting plenty of sleep are well known. Imagine a world (home or workplace) where everyone was fully rested and energized. Think how much more creative, productive, and happy life would be. An article from About.com, Top 10 Health Benefits of a Good Night's Sleep - Why sleep matters to you", by Mark Stibich, PhD, lists the following Top 10 benefits of a good night’s sleep:

1. Keeps your heart healthy – improves blood pressure and cholesterol

2. May prevent cancer – increases melatonin levels that suppresses tumor growth

3. Reduces stress – sleep deficiency leads to stress hormones

4. Reduces inflammation – related to heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, and aging

5. Makes you more alert – increases energy and helps you continue to sleep better

6. Improves memory – helps the brain to make connections and function properly

7. Helps you lose weight – balances hormones that affect appetite

8. Naps – lower stress, improve memory, brain function and mood

9. Reduces risk for depression – increases serotonin levels to ward off depression

10. Helps the body repair itself – more protein is produced in cells to help the body repair itself

Challenge your friends or family members to get a good night’s sleep. Do a little research on the subject and share what you learn. Talk about the benefits of proper sleep and the difference it makes in how you think and feel. If you are in the work force, or a member of an organization, invite an expert in to talk about it.

Sleep WELL!

Michael