HAES: Sleep - A Well-Kept Secret

Posted March 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Jessica Hale

Section: Her Health, Body Image, Her Motivation, Special Features

In this regular column, Jessica Hale introduces you to Health at Every Size - a wellness philosophy that endorses health, body acceptance and overall wellbeing...rather than crash dieting or the beauty of Botox. This week, Jessica shares a sneaky health secret it seems many women haven’t heard about: the benefits of sleep.

Eating right and exercising are the keys to healthy living. If you eat a wide variety of foods, with lots of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and get some form of physical activity daily, you’ll feel more energized, improve your cholesterol, and be an all-around healthier person. It’s as simple as that.

…Right?

I don’t want to undermine the importance of healthy eating and exercise, because they are paramount to a healthy lifestyle. We should all be mindful of keeping our body fueled (while allowing room for the occasional chocolate cake or side of fries) and active. But there’s one habit that is constantly underplayed in the media, and it’s a habit that is just as pivotal to overall health: sleep.

Getting at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep each night has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, depression, cancer, stress, inflammation and memory loss. Despite this, a majority of adult North Americans report not getting enough sleep; it’s been estimated that sleep deprivation costs $150 billion a year in reduced worker productivity. Some health organizations go so far as to say that we are suffering from a collective sleep epidemic. And while the media occasionally stresses the importance of sleep, it’s not nearly as prominent as exercise or eating right in the popular health press. Why this conspicuous absence?

Stress has become something of a status symbol in our society. Women especially are taking on more and more responsibilities, often juggling full-time jobs with families, volunteer work, and sometimes going to school as well. As a student, I often hear classmates bragging that they were up until 5 or 6 in the morning studying; the campus library and coffee shop stay open 24 hours a day to accommodate our zany schedules. In a capitalist economy, hard work and long hours are constructed as the pathways to success. Unfortunately, sleep too often gets left behind.

If you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle, don’t neglect the importance of sleep. Commit to getting enough sleep just as you would commit to eating more vegetables or going to the gym regularly. You may feel like you’re losing productive hours by sleeping one-third of your day, but you’ll find yourself able to accomplish more in a shorter time if you’re energized and well-rested. So eat right, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep – no guilt required.