Just how critical is sleep? Is it that important? Can I skimp on it? Can I take shortcuts?
Short answer – NO. Sleep is a core body function. Sleep is like respiration. It is necessary, has to happen and if you do not comply the body will take over. Like if you try to hold your breath, eventually the body will shut your conscious brain down so that it can breath and survive. Same with sleep. You can only will yourself to not sleep for so long until eventually your body will shut you down.
I remember I worked on this project all night long and into the next day. I finished at 3pm and then had to go teach a class at 6pm. I downed a bunch of caffeine and went to teach. I remember standing at the white board and was saying something and trying to write at the same time. I fell asleep standing up in front of a class of 30 people. Now I have no idea how long I was sleeping, but I woke up to a long scribble line on the board. I was literally talking and writing in my sleep. I have no idea what I was saying or trying to write. The class did not seem to be too freaked out, I dismissed them and never heard anything back. It was really weird to say the least.
The point is, you cannot avoid the essential body function of sleep. It is right up there with hydration and respiration. Without these three, you stop functioning rather quickly. Breathing probably the most immediate. The others longer. Hydration maybe a day or two. Sleep probably three days or slightly longer. There are other critical body functions but all of them have a greater time frame. There are a few others as well, but that is not my point. Sleep is a function.
Since it is a function it is critical for sleep to be working correctly. If you are not feeling refreshed or alert then the first place to look is the function of sleep. If you are down, discouraged, or need a refresh then the best way to cure that is through sleep. There really is no substitute that works well. Sleep is really complicated and tied to so many other issues in your life. It is like breathing. When you are out of shape, breathing is not as effective. Same as sleep. If you are not hydrated things do not go well. Same as sleep.
Funny how we look to all these problems, we look at all the symptoms, we look at all the things that could be wrong. When really it could just be sleep.
Guy Reams
