Next time you're playing Wii into the wee hours of the night and your mom tells you to go to bed, just do what she says! Sleep is incredibly important for your health and body and if you're not sure why, just read on to find out.
Why Is It Important?
You're bound to
be tired when you're in school all day, and then head off to
play sports, participate in
extracurricular activities, hang with friends, do homework and catch up on all your favorite
TV shows. By the end of the day,
your brain and body need to
catch some ZZZs! You need about
nine hours of sleep every night to function normally the next day; otherwise, you won't be able to
think clearly or concentrate in class. Sleep is also important cuz it
helps you grow and builds your
immune system to prevent you from
getting sick.
The Sleep Cycle
Every night, you go through five different stages of sleep.
Stage 1 - You get drowsy and start to drift off. Your breathing becomes slow, heartbeat becomes regular and there's not much body movement.
Stage 2 - You enter a light sleep, but can still be easily awakened by noises.
Stage 3 - You're in a deeper sleep, where it's difficult to wake you up.
Stage 4 - This is the deepest stage of sleep. Sleepwalking and bedwetting occur in this phase.
REM - Your brain suddenly becomes much more active. You have rapid eye movements (REMs), your face, fingers and toes may twitch, and dreams will occur.
The Sleeping Positions
Ever wondered what your sleeping position says about you? It actually reveals a lot about
your personality!
If you sleep on your back, you're confident, outgoing and open to new challenges and experiences.
If you sleep on your stomach, you're a perfectionist and a bit of a control freak who likes to have things done your way. But, you're also creative, focused and stick to what you believe in.
If you sleep on your side, you're easygoing, adapt well to new situations and like to go with the flow, but can be somewhat of a pushover.
Snooze Suggestions
Set a regular sleep time so you go to bed and wake up around the same time every day.
Don't drink coffee, pop or any other drink with caffeine in it after 2PM.
Don't nap during the day. If you really need to, keep it to 30 minutes max.
Make sure you like your room - the more comfortable you feel in your environment, the easier it'll be for you to relax and fall asleep.
Warm milk works wonders! Zap it in the microwave for about 20 seconds to heat it up.
Related Stories:
Waking Sleepwalkers
The Sound of Snoring
The Meaning of Dreams
More Health and Body Info!
