Sleep Deprivation is an insidious problem that is spreading among populations young and old alike.

Though an occasional bout of insomnia is quite normal, chronic sleep deprivation can lead to serious illness and even injury. Sleep deprivation has been attributed to thousands of automobile accidents, on the job accidents and poor decision making.

People who are sleep deprived tend to be irritable and often angry, thus their behavior is often profoundly influenced by the adverse effects of sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation can be attributed to a number of causes including:

• Stress

• High Paced Lifestyle

• Poor Eating Habits

• Physiological Sleep Disorders

• Shift Work

• Illness

Lost production time, accidents and physician costs are rising as more and more people are suffering from sleep problems. Studies suggest that a majority of the population is chronically sleep deprived.

Why sleep?

Sleep is necessary for brain cells to regenerate and for body systems to recover from their daily work. Sleep also rejuvenates the body, mind and spirit; prepping you for the challenges you will face day in and day out.

Not sure if your one of the thousands of people suffering from sleep deprivation? Take our sleep challenge test.

Sleep Test

• Do you fall asleep within a minute or two of lying down?

• Do you have a hard time remembering obvious details?

• Do you feel anxious or groggy?

• Do you often find yourself lethargic?

• Would you describe your health as poor?

• Are you often moody, angry or tearful?

If you answered yes to any of these questions there is a possibility that you may not be getting a good nights rest.

Secrets of a Sound Nights Sleep

So what do you do if you are one of the millions of chronically sleep deprived beings wandering the earth?

There are several steps you can take to ensure that you get a good nights sleep. You can even get a sound nights sleep on just a few hours of quality rest every night. No matter who you are or what you do, there is hope.

Efficient sleepers have known for years that there are secrets to sleeping well.

Some of the more common strategies employed by sound sleepers include the following:

• Creation of a bedtime routine.

• Use of a bedroom sanctuary.

• Minimal stimulation late in the evening.

• Avoidance of excessive stimulants several hours prior to bedtime.

• Minimal alcohol consumption up to two hours before bedtime.

There are hundreds of things you can do to improve the quality of your sleep. Natural supplements including melatonin have been used by shift workers and travelers for years to improve the quality of their sleep when outside of their normal sleep environment.

The key to a good nights sleep is figuring out what works for you and then sticking with it. Remember a good nights sleep is well worth the small effort it takes to create a routine. A life lived recharged and revived is worth living.