Summary: You're listening to the 24th episode of the Humans 2.0 podcast, solo-series, FLOW! Today's episode is on the MOST important activity that I partake in other than meditation...and it's sleeping 7-8 hours a day. <br><br>1. Sleeping Helps Prevent Diabetes and Heart Disease<br>Everyone has problems falling asleep from time to time, but if you are chronically suffering from a lack of sleep, your odds of developing heart disease or type 2 diabetes will significantly increase. With this in mind, individuals who have insomnia, sleep apnea or another complication that makes it difficult to have a restful night should consider talking to their doctor about getting a sleep aid. It is also important to note that regular exercise and following a set bedtime and wake-up routine will help.<br><br>2. Sleep Makes You Feel Good<br>We all know the glorious feeling of waking up after a good night’s sleep. Our minds feel sharper, our bodies have fewer aches, and we’re more physically and emotionally equipped to take on the rest of the day. Unfortunately, getting to this happy stage is very difficult for some people. If you struggle with falling or staying asleep, it is wise to follow some scientifically proven methods for fixing the problem.<br><br>For example, a post on the science of sleeping suggests cooling your face, dropping the temperature in your bedroom to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and taking the rather unorthodox seeming approach of trying to force yourself to stay awake while lying in bed. Apparently, those who stare at the ceiling instead of having their eyes closed typically fall asleep more quickly.<br><br>3. Sleeping Helps with Weight Management<br>Have you ever noticed that you feel hungrier when you are sleep deprived? Researchers from Hendrix College studied this phenomenon with college students. They conclusively proved that a lack of sleep leads to an increased daily consumption of approximately 300 calories. This happens because the brain needs sleep to perform its best. When it doesn’t get enough, it burns through glucose, carbs, and other human fuels more quickly than usual in an attempt to keep you alert and fully functional. If you want to lose weight, eight hours of sleep should be part of your nightly routine.<br><br>4. Naps Boost Productivity<br>Studies by NASA and Dr. Sara C. Mednick have found that naps serve another vital function in our overall sleep needs. In fact, if you take a nap of at least 26 minutes between 1 and 4 p.m., you’ll experience a productivity boost of up to 34 percent. When you consider the impact that productivity levels can have on everything from your job performance to completing personal tasks, it becomes easy to see why everyone should be given a nap break during the day.<br><br>You may not be able to get your employer to sanction this idea, but consider using part of your lunch break to help you catch a few extra ZZZs.<br><br>5. Sleeping Helps Your Immune System<br>Your immune system is constantly at work attempting to protect you from a long list of potential illnesses. You can help it have a high rate of success by getting at least seven hours of sleep per night. Sadly, those who are unable to do this will suffer from an impaired immune system that leaves them more prone to catching a cold or the flu.<br><br>One study even found that sleep deprivation following a vaccination could reduce the effects of the vaccine by as much as 50 percent. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that you get enough sleep if you wish to remain as healthy as possible.<br><br>6. Sleep Provides A Cognitive Boost<br>If you have a big test or presentation tomorrow, the absolute best thing you can do for yourself is to get a good night’s sleep. This is because researchers have determined that there is a strong link between sleep and cognitive performance. When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain will experience reduced blood flow. As a result, your cognitive speed,...
