Health and Sci

Science helps. Especially when you’re doing odd things to your body. You’re putting your health into a canoe on the ocean. Be a model of caution.

Science and Tradition Say No

Recent scientific research leans toward not chopping sleep. I’m not disputing the bulk of their work, and it’s getting bulkier. Deal with their findings and be responsible for your decisions.

Shift work is being studied. Many of us often don’t function as well on a night shift without special accommodations.

Tradition has a point. Normal sleep is 8 hours nightly (give or take), for some reason. Maybe it’s right.

But some of us are outliers. Many creative people do their best work at night. Maybe you’re one.

Body Clock Off

Circadian rhythms are natural. Yours won’t exist. Too bad.

Our wake-and-sleep cycle averages a bit longer than 24 hours. That fudges our habits that rely on Earth’s rotation. But I don’t know if it’s different if you have a critical work burden, just without a daily schedule as long as you get it done in time.

Probably what’s important is not to expect that you’ll be tired at the same time every night. It may shift. Sleep when you need to without too much fear of the clock.

(Technically, circadian rhythms still exist. You’re ignoring them, although you are watching yourself for danger signs (yes?), so it’s okay.)

Websites of Interest

These websites have some interesting content, although I disagree with some of it:

Health advice from reliable sources favoring normal sleep:

What Are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency?, from National Institutes of Health

Sleep Tips: 7 Steps to Better Sleep, from the Mayo Clinic

Consequences of Insufficient Sleep, from Harvard Medical School

“Eat, Sleep and Move” Campaign Success Includes Fun with Family and Friends, from the United States Army

Other reliable sources:

How to Fake a Good Night’s Sleep, from Health.com and CNN, a journalistic broadcaster; the story has tips on making do with less sleep

25 Random Facts about Sleep, from National Sleep Foundation, an organization with several physicians on its Board of Directors

The Factor Of Sleep In Training., from a bodybuilding business, with some of its information coming from a physician

15 Things You Should Know About Sleep, from a journalism source citing medical and other sources

Poor Sleep Has Social Causes and Consequences, by a sociology professor

9 Fun Facts About Sleep, from Encyclopaedia Britannica

Opinions, probably from laity:

Relax! You’ll Be More Productive, an opinion piece partly on naps and rest

40 Amazing Facts About Sleep: 40 Facts About Sleep You Probably Didn’t Know... (Or Were Too Tired To Think About), from the National Sleep Research Project, hosted by Australian Broadcasting Corp., a journalism source

Wellness Center Relaxation and Sleep Information, from Midwestern State University

How Much Sleep Does a Person Need?, from Tuck, saying that people tend to claim getting more sleep than they actually get and that only a little over two thirds of Americans get enough sleep

Other information:

Research on Sleep and REM, by an undergraduate student

The Guide to Sleeping in Airports

(Sources: All except one of the links to these websites of interest were as accessed April 3, 2016, the exception being the link to Tuck, which was accessed February 25 or 26, 2017.)