If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?

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The text emphasizes the crucial role of sleep as a biological necessity rather than a luxury, countering the modern tendency to prioritize work over rest. Sleep enhances physical health, mental well-being, and quality of life. It outlines sleep stages, optimal sleep durations by age, and the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on health, urging adherence to healthy sleep routines.

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If I didn’t need sleep, what would I do with all extra time? Hmm…

My answer is simple. I would sleep with all the extra time! Sounds quirky? It does, but I think, there is nothing more productive than sleep in the allocated time. It is preferable when the mind is fatigued and has stopped working. It is true for the body too. So, Nature has endowed sleep as a therapy to soothe nerves, the brain and the body.

Demeaning sleep and giving undue importance to “Work” over other body activities has become a vogue. It becomes a gaudy show of one’s fake priority over the natural needs of the body. The argument that sleep is a waste of time is unscientific, baseless and lame. It has no scientific backing. Extending this argument leads to a counterargument. Can the important body role, like attending nature’s call, be ignored? Should it not be considered a waste of time?

To show their best, people try to announce their “creative pursuit” and do some “extra work”. It is far from practical. Living organisms, especially the higher animals, need rejuvenating slumber. The bio-clock has been designed in such a way that after a threshold, the animals or human beings fall to sleep.

Depriving sleep in favour of “work” is an atrocity committed towards the body.

Sleep is a biological need, not a luxury. The body needs a good sound sleep. Like food, respiration, and excretion, sleep is equally important. Depriving sleep in favour of “work” is an atrocity committed towards the body. An organism can’t live without food, breathing, or getting rid of harmful substances, which are the outcome of the body’s physiology. So is the sleep. It is, thus, established that body functions must not be ignored. Why then isolate sleep or food?

The increasing trend of showing oneself busy and having no time for sleep or food is nothing more than an effort to ignore the basic functions of the body. In the modern era, when technological advancement has become a way of life, work has also been automated. The extra time one gets after work is used to watch mobile phone, computer and other activities. This hampers the normal sleep cycle, causing adverse side effects which deteriorate the quality of work and life. Among other ill effects, the crucial one is its adverse effect on the brain and its role.

Human sleep is a cycle that primarily involves two stages. They are:

• NREM or Non-Rapid Eye Movement – NREM is further of four substages from 01 to 04. During the process of sleep, stage 01 is the first stage. As the individual dives deep in sleep he passes through stages 02 to 03 when dreaming starts. The last sub-stage is 04 when the person is in the transition stage.
• REM or Rapid Eye Movement – As the name suggests, REM is the stage when the moves rapidly. After the transition of the 04 sub-stage of NREM, the individual enters the REM stage which is the last phase of the sleep cycle.

The NREM stage is crucial. It is the time when the individual is in deep slumber. The body becomes calm, physiological activities become moderate, and the brain functions at a low level. This causes low electrical impulses and detoxification of the body. The body undergoes the process of repair, strengthening the immune system, and building bone and muscle. Sleep is intertwined with mental health. It is why an individual feels fresh and rejuvenated after a healthy sleep. During the time of illness body system causes the individual to sleep.

An average person needs at least 08 hours of sound sleep. The duration varies according to the age and physical conditions. While a newborn sleeps for 14 to 17 hours, an infant sleeps for 12 to 16 hours. A toddler needs to sleep for 10 to 14 hours. The sleep duration progressively decreases as age progresses. The table below offers a brief overview of the optimal hours of sleep from a newborn to an adult.

Age Group	Sleep Hours
Newborn	14 to 16
Infants	12 to 16
Toddlers	10 to 14
School going children	09 to 12
Teenagers	08 to 10
Adults	08 to 09

A deeply stressed and fatigued body requires a long sleep. Intense physical or mental work can exhaust the body, leading to drowsiness and sleep. It is a natural process. Sleep order is disturbed due to some external factors as well. Additionally, sleep disorders like Narcolepsy, Shift Work Sleep Disorders, Insomnia, Parasomnia et cetera affect normal sleep cycles. They are briefly discussed hereunder:

• Narcolepsy – is a condition where the brain can’t control the sleep or awakening.
• Shift work sleep disorder – is a condition observed in a person whose work shift is not conventional, like working the night shift. People of this kind feel drowsy at normal times, fall asleep, and feel irritated. With lifestyle changes, the disorder can be overcome.
• Insomnia – is a condition when a person does not sleep because of medical conditions or psychological reasons. It arises due to lack of sleep and causes curable symptoms. The temporary symptoms are irritation, lack of concentration, feeling sluggishness.
• Parasomnia – In this condition abnormal feelings, voices et cetera happen when the person sleeps. This causes sleep disruptions. Persons ailing with Sleep Terror, or Sleepwalking are categorised in it.

Sleep is vital, but its reasons are yet to be ascertained. Many questions persist unanswered, particularly about the causes of sleep and the reasons we dream. These topics are still being explored and understood.

Sleeping times can be managed. Some people manage their time effectively, sleeping less than needed. Illustrious public personalities conditioned their lifestyle according to the nature and complexities of their work.

For a sound health and mind, a good quality sleep is essential. One should follow a healthy sleep routine and keep a healthy sleep schedule. While going to bed, one should have a happy mindset and a good, relaxing sleep environment. Heavy dinner, caffeine or nicotine needs to be avoided before going to bed.

Sleep deprivation adversely affects the body’s immune system and increases the danger of weight gain to become obese. It causes low insulin production and increase the risk of diabetes besides exhaustion and nausea.

To conclude, sleep is an indispensable part of health, affecting virtually every aspect of human functioning. Its impact on physical health, emotional well-being, and longevity can’t be overstated. As our modern lifestyle increasingly places demands on our time and attention, it is essential to emphasise sleep and adopt habits that promote restful, restorative sleep. Understanding the science behind sleep and its benefits can empower individuals to make informed choices that support long-term health, happiness, and productivity.

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