Goodnight…Sleep and Rest Well!

Sleep...one of the most important aspects of our daily life and yet so many people are affected by a lack of sleep along with poor quality sleep. 

Sleep deprivation affects people of all age groups, across all social and economic demographic categories. The news media and scholarly press tell us about situations that explain the impact of sleep deprivation on a person’s ability to manage stress and anxiety as well as their memory capacity and learning ability.  

There are also numerous research studies that explore the effects and association between sleep deprivation and health risks including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, sleep apnea, asthma, and inflammation. 

I’m sure I am one of those persons who fall within this health challenge. I can easily recognize when I’ve slept well and when I have not by how I feel in the morning, how I manage daily activities and challenges, and how changes in my health status have emerged!

Right before the COVID-19 pandemic, I realized I had to make changes in my daily activities in hopes that it would help me rest, sleep better, and manage my daily stresses. Some of these changes were not so difficult to implement, and some still remain challenges. I have taken on lifestyle changes gradually that have helped my general health and well-being. However, I know I have more work to do to improve the quality of my sleep every day.

My next step is to find and read updated literature from scholars and experts in sleep science. 

Looking at our library holdings, I found a good gem that teaches various topics and solutions for sleep-related lifestyle essentials:

• The SLEEP Prescription (Penguin Books, 2022). Aric A. Prather, PhD

Dr. Prather is a professor and director of a respected research program focused on causes and consequences of insufficient sleep. He also codirects the Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center at the University of California-San Francisco.  

My next post will be about what I’ve learned from this resource, and what I’ve done as a result of learning from this author.

So, what are your plans to improve the quality of your sleep?

If you have questions about this topic and are interested in finding good resources through our library or online, contact us to set up a time to meet with the Community Wellness and Health Literacy Specialist, Diane De Luco, RD, LD, MS, MLIS. She will assist you in finding resources to help you along this important path to wellness.