World Sleep Day: Are you still sleeping, or are you already recharging?
On World Sleep Day, we want to give sleep the attention it deserves. After all, no one can avoid sleeping—and yet, for most people, it’s just a side issue.
When we consider that we sleep an average of 8 hours a night—and thus literally sleep through a third of our lives—we realize just how much of our lives is actually spent sleeping and how important healthy sleep habits are for an energetic life.
To raise awareness in society about the importance of healthy sleep, World Sleep Day was launchedby the World Sleep Society in 2008 on the Friday before the spring equinox .
We spend a third of our lives asleep, and yet for most people, sleep is merely a side issue.
But why so late—when sleep is not some new hobby, but rather a basic biological need that has existed since the dawn of human evolution?! If we rewind a bit through human history, we can see that our individual sleep patterns have changed significantly with the course of history. While our ancestors adapted their sleep to the seasonal rhythm and the cycle of the sun, the invention of electric light—as part of the industrialization that took place in the 19th century—turned night into day. This new form of night work replaced the tradition of retreating to a public sleeping quarters or a private bedroom at nightfall.
In the past, people adapted their sleep patterns to the seasonal rhythms.
In the present day, the boundary between daytime wakefulness and nighttime rest continues to blur in some cultures, though for the sake of rest and recovery. While the “siesta” has become established in southern European countries, an “inemuri” has developed during the midday hours in Japan. A rejuvenating phenomenon that takes place in daylight—one that we in contemporary Central Europe are lagging behind somewhat due to our strict 16-hour wakefulness and 8-hour sleep cycle.
Today, in addition to the artistic juggling act between deadlines and social interactions, we long for healthy sleep. Once we reach adulthood, we start the day with a green smoothie and yoga, and before we leave the office with our yoga mat under our arm, dressed in workout clothes, so we can combine exercise with quality time with friends.
When we fall into bed exhausted and tired in the evening, we try to fall asleep quickly so we’ll be refreshed for a new day. But there’s one thing we neglect amid these countless tasks and priorities—the importance of our sleep. While we devote ourselves daily to our intellectual pursuit of leading a healthy life, we forget that our sleep habits also have a significant impact on our health. In addition to a balanced, vitamin-rich diet and plenty of exercise in the fresh air, healthy sleep in particular contributes to a healthy lifestyle. This is a fact we shouldn’t dismiss as trivial; rather, it should become a natural part of our health routine—one we should actively incorporate to ensure optimal recovery.
As part of World Sleep Day, which will mark its 17th anniversary in 2025, medical professionals, researchers, scientists, and experts are focusing not only on the benefits of healthy sleep patterns but especially on the prevention and treatment of sleep disorders in society.
And rightly so: The list of processes that take place while we sleep is long. Human vital signs such as breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and consciousness slow down, while our body’s cells truly reorganize themselves. During sleep, our experiences are internalized and subsequently processed; our cells begin to repair and regenerate themselves; and our immune system begins to activate. Even though we’re just lying in bed, vital processes are taking place within our bodies.
While we sleep, our bodies are working at full speed. It’s time to ensure a restful night’s sleep!
World Sleep Day offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on your own sleep habits and make changes if necessary. It’s important to listen to your inner voice and follow a sleep routine that fits your personal lifestyle.
