Identifying a Good Night's Sleep
Can You Remember What Sound Sleep Feels Like?
In America, so many people are suffering from sleep issues that we may have forgotten what a good night's sleep looks like. As a way of reminder, we will paint a picture of what we should hope to experience from and during the hours we spend in bed trying to sleep.
A Good Night's Sleep Means
Being sleepy (not exhausted) before bedtime
Falling asleep quickly – not tossing and turning for hours
Entering a deep sleep quickly – getting the best sleep possible for the hours in bed
Returning to sleep quickly if we get up during the night
Sleeping solidly during the night and waking up full of energy
Waking up excited to see the day that the Lord has made
Waking up with a clear mind, alert and refreshed within a half an hour or so
Not needing caffeine, nicotine, sugar, or other drugs just to get going in the morning
Having the same amount of vigor throughout the day and not becoming tired in the afternoon and evening
When we get this kind of sleep, we will have the energy and time to be more productive during the day to do what God has called us to do.
It is also important to consider the amount of time spent sleeping.
How Much Sleep Do We Need?
In ancient cultures, the normal amount of sleep was considered to be:
5 – 7 hours for adults
7 – 8 hours for children
9 or more hours for the unhealthy person or sluggard [1]
In our modern culture, the guidelines according to the National Sleep Foundation are quite different:
7-9 hours for adults (with 5-10 hours considered acceptable)
8-11 hours for children ages 6-17 (with 7-12 hours considered acceptable) [2]
What once was considered part of the abnormal sleep range set aside for the lazy or unhealthy person is now considered to be normal and acceptable. And likely for a good reason. We are not getting enough quality sleep in America.
These changes could be a result of the overall declining health of the average American. Sleeplessness in America could be causing us to need more hours of sleep to compensate for the poor quality of sleep we are achieving.
There is hope.
Good sleep is attainable. To achieve it, we must first learn and understand the mechanics of sleep (especially poor sleep). The next post will identify the processes that are at work in the body that build up to sleep and that are occurring during the sleep process. Understanding these processes will help to identify the root causes of sleep problems and assist in revealing their solutions.
Next: The Mechanics of A Poor Night's Sleep
Return to: Biblical Health Study
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[1] Systemic Rest by Russ Sinclair
[2] https://sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need