In
Sleep deprivation is an epidemic and it is costing Australia over $5 billion per year. How can that be possible? Well, sleep deprivation leads to accidents, healthcare spending and a lot of lost productivity – $3 Billion worth! It is a very serious problem, but what does being sleep deprived actually mean? Would you know if you are sleep deprived?
To be sleep-deprived means you are getting less sleep than your body needs to feel energetic, wide-awake and alert throughout the day. “But I got 8 hours of sleep and still feel tired” you might be thinking to yourself as you read this. The truth is, the amount of sleep required every night varies from individual to individual. For adults, it is recommended that you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night.
So how do you know if you are sleep deprived?
First of all, answer the following questions: Are you having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep? Are waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep? Would you rate your sleep quality as poor? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more then you probably are sleep deprived.
While you might be getting into bed early each night, this doesn’t assure you are getting the amount of sleep your body needs to feel refreshed the next day. In addition to fatigue, symptoms of sleep deprivation include:
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Poor Concentration
- Difficulty Learning
Addressing sleep deprivation can be difficult, but being proactive about sleep is a great way to start.
If you think you may be sleep deprived or want to sleep even better, sign up for our 6 Week Sleep Challenge, and spend 6 weeks dedicating yourself to improving your sleep!