Newborn babies sleep between 10.5 and 18 hours a day. As an adult, wouldn’t that be amazing?
According to a new study published in Sleep Review Magazine, sleep experts are recommending between seven and eight hours a day for not only more energy and better happiness levels, but also for a healthier brain.
“We know how many questions adults have about how much sleep is enough, and the role that sleep plays in brain health and cognitive function,” said Marilyn Albert, PhD, professor of neurology, chair of GCBH, and director of the division of Cognitive Neurosciences at Johns Hopkins University. “This report answers a lot of these questions and we hope it will be a valuable source of information for people.”
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) study found that wholly 99% of adults aged 50 years or older believe that sleep is an important aspect of their brain’s overall health. But 43% admit they don’t get enough sleep, and more than half — 54% — report that they wake up much too early in the morning and can’t fall back asleep.
In addition to worsening brain activity, if someone isn’t getting enough sleep, their careers may suffer as a result.
According to Bed Times, another set of researchers recently determined that severe sleep deprivation negatively affects the workplace, no matter the industry.
The report, titled, “The Wake-up Call: The Importance of Sleep in Organizational Life,” researched 1,000 professionals and analyzed how they perform at work after only a few hours of sleep.
The survey showed that 60% of respondents experienced a lack in motivation, 60% couldn’t generate new ideas, 45% were unable to remain focused throughout the day, and 44% could not handle their daily demands. Those kinds of negative side effects might be disastrous for workers with a 9-to-5 office job, but it could be deadly for professional drivers, doctors, or anyone who operates heavy machinery.
“Traditionally, organizations that seek to enhance their effectiveness have focused on developing their leadership capabilities, strategically managing the talent within their organization, increasing employee engagement and motivation and streamlining their operations,” read the report.
Simply put, regular issues with sleep deprivation aren’t just annoying; they’re an outright health crisis.
