Good Sleep Is A Key To Good Health

Good Sleep is a Key to Good Health

Bedtime stories, being tucked in under the cozy covers, and reflecting on and expressing gratitude for the day that’s passed are rituals many of us have fond memories of as young children. Being a “good sleeper” is a goal shared by almost all parents when you ask about their children.

Why is it that we work to instill good sleep habits in our children or grandkids, yet as we grow older, poor sleep habits – and even intentionally minimizing sleep hours – becomes the norm? It’s even a badge of honor for some!

Receiving less than the ideal amount and quality of sleep is potentially detrimental to health and well-being. Here are some potential concerns.

Health – poor sleep can elevate heart disease risk, and can be a contributor to high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, and increased susceptibility to infection.

Focus – too little or poor-quality sleep leads to fatigue, distraction and forgetfulness during the workday. Being unfocused increases the risk of farm injury or even death. Sleep deprivation alters our perception of risk and increases the likelihood we’ll make choices we’d otherwise view as unsafe.

Decision-making – a lack of sleep makes decision-making difficult, especially in circumstances requiring creative, complex considerations of alternatives and evaluating future “what-if” scenarios. We’ve all heard others say, “Let me sleep on it,” when they’re faced with a big decision. Sleep-deprived people are often unable to think creatively or envision new ways of doing things. With agriculture changing so rapidly, sleep can enhance our ability to think through potential pathways for future success.

Communication – poor sleep makes it tough to regulate emotions that support helpful, productive conversations with others. We’ve all experienced being crabby and even unrealistic in our thinking because we’re over-tired. When fatigued, our brains are less effective in the complex tasks of listening to others for meaning, formulating our thoughts, and engaging with other people in a caring way.

Falling or staying asleep – such sleep-associated difficulties can be both a symptom of too much stress and a cause of stress. In the same way, chronic lack of sleep can either be a symptom of depression or it can increase the risk of depression. These cycles of sleeplessness and stress can be difficult to break.

With so many reasons to improve our sleep and get back to those childhood habits our parents taught us, we can all benefit by learning about strategies for better sleep!

Learn strategies to improve the quality of your sleep here.

About Author

John Shutske

Extension Agricultural Safety & Health Specialist and Professor University of Wisconsin – Madison, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Chris Frakes