Medical professionals have never wavered on the advice that a good, restful night’s sleep is extremely beneficial – even vital – to a human being’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. When we’re well-rested our bodies are happy, we have more patience, we’re able to look at things with a more level-head, and we’re just all-around happier – and so are our friends and family.
That said, we’ve somehow gotten to a point where people wear sleep-deprivation like a badge of honor. They’re guzzling coffee, they’re going to school and raising kids and working and writing a book, and somehow, they act like they’re pulling it all off – and our instinct is to praise this person.
This Tumblr thread, though, takes a look at why that’s terrible, and suggests that in the long run, no one benefits from chronically running on too little sleep.
It began with someone suggesting that the whole idea that adults don’t really need that much sleep smells like capitalism at work.
Image Credit: Cheezburger
There’s also research happening that could suggest that lack of sleep could be behind the mysterious and damaging inflammation that is plaguing so many American adults.
Image Credit: Cheezburger
We know it’s important, we just don’t make it a priority. No one does.
Image Credit: Cheezburger
First sleep and second sleep…I think I could get behind that.
Image Credit: Cheezburger
Not getting enough sleep compromises your immune system, too, and I think we all realize now that’s a terrible problem to have.
Image Credit: Cheezburger
There is a reason that sleep-deprivation is a form of torture.
Image Credit: Cheezburger
And yes, making teenagers clock in to school at 7am is cruel and unusual punishment.
Image Credit: Cheezburger
Of course, we’re all different – but that doesn’t work for capitalism.
Image Credit: Cheezburger
We’re overworked, and with our devices, we’re constantly “clocked in.”
Image Credit: Cheezburger
Clock out, my friends. Let’s bring back a work-life balance and stop feeling guilty for taking some time to ourselves.
Do it for yourselves, but do it for your kids, too – they need to see us making our health and our relationships a priority so they realize they can do it, too.
