Read here, then participate in the poll at right.
One of the SMALL FORCES behind tomorrow's BIG CHANGES is what we call the '30 Winkers.'
Everybody knows you're supposed to get eight hours of sleep. Even as the nutrition experts go back and forth on how many carbs we're supposed to have, and the alcohol experts go back and forth on whether we should drink red wine every day (I don't) - the Sleep Experts have been singing the same song for 150 years. People need 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep per night.
I don't suppose I have to tell you that we're failing at that. The average American now gets somewhere between 6.4 and 6.8 hours of sleep nightly. Thanks to 24-hour-a-day electronics and expectations, we're awake more than any Americans in recorded history. Unfortunately, because of the drivenness of society, our ability to 'manage' our lives on 5 hours of sleep has become a badge of honor for many. And the number of people who sleep LESS than 6 hours per night is quickly rising - 34 million are currently burning the midnight oil. Or midnight Internet solitaire.
As tired as Americans are, the rest of the world is faring no better. In a 2005 survey, 7 out of 10 night-owl nations were Asian nations. We didn't even make the top ten. 75% of Portuguese go to bed after midnight ... as do 69% of Taiwanese, 68% of Koreans, 66% of Hong Kongese, 65% of Spaniards, 60% of Japanese, 54% of Singaporeans and Malaysians, 43% of Thais and 39% of Italians. Of course, Portuguese and Spaniards integrate siestas into their daily routine.
It's a big concern - people who walk around tired - their lives continuously drained - not even a moment to spend with God or hear from Him - too worn out to spend time with family - trying to forever catch up on much-needed rest and never catching it.
How can we change the world if we're sleepwalking all day?
So this is a CALL - for what it's worth - to balance the rhythm of life -- hard work -- free time -- deep rest (rinse and repeat). Whaddaya say?
(By the way, Australians take the prize for MOST sleep per night - 31% of them get more than 9 hours nightly. Aren't you jealous? If you had the courage to admit it, you would be.)
Participate in the poll at right. Thanks.
And be bleszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
1 comment:
I saw something like this on the news about Americans not getting enough sleep. Sometimes it's getting up early with children, waking up too many times in the night for pain problems or someone snores too loud-what, me? I think the key is falling into that deep sleep will get you the best results for the next day. Then there is coffee!!!!
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