If you’re getting less than eight hours of sleep each night, chances are you’re sleep deprived. What’s more, you probably have no idea just how much lack of sleep is affecting you.
How is it possible to be sleep deprived without knowing it?
Most of the signs of sleep deprivation are much more subtle than falling face first into your dinner plate. Furthermore, if you’ve made a habit of skimping on sleep, you may not even remember what it feels like to be wide-awake, fully alert, and firing on all cylinders. It feels normal to get sleepy when you’re in a boring meeting, struggle through the afternoon slump, or doze off after dinner. But the truth is that it’s only “normal” if you’re sleep deprived.
You may be sleep deprived if you...
· Need an alarm clock in order to wake up on time.
· Rely on the snooze button.
· Have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning.
· Feel sluggish in the afternoon.
· Get sleepy in meetings, lectures, or warm rooms.
· Get drowsy after heavy meals or when driving.
· Need to nap to get through the day.
· Fall asleep while watching TV or relaxing in the evening.
· Feel the need to sleep in on weekends.
· Fall asleep within five minutes of going to bed.
While it may seem like losing sleep isn’t such a big deal, sleep deprivation has a wide range of negative effects that go way beyond daytime drowsiness.
The effects of sleep deprivation and chronic lack of sleep
· Fatigue, lethargy, and lack of motivation
· Moodiness and irritability
· Reduced creativity and problem-solving skills
· Inability to cope with stress
· Reduced immunity; frequent colds and infections
· Concentration and memory problems
· Weight gain
· Impaired motor skills and increased risk of accidents
· Difficulty making decisions
· Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems
Is lack of sleep affecting your performance?
Lack of sleep affects your judgment, coordination, and reaction times. In fact, sleep deprivation can affect you just as much as being drunk.