In our always-on hyper-connected culture there's something that most of us can't get enough of: sleep. Long hours at the office, electronic devices we fail to power down so they interfere with our natural sleep cycles, and more than enough stress to keep us up at all hours no matter how many sheep we count, all play a part to keep us from getting the 7-8 hours of sleep every adult should have each night.
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Sleep deprivation is an epidemic. An estimated 50 to 70 million adults in the United States alone have sleep disorders. Lack of sleep impacts every aspect of our lives from our relationships with others to our health to our careers.
What happens when you don't get enough sleep?
Sleep isn't a nice to have. Humans require sleep to restore and repair body systems and a proper night's sleep helps your brain function properly. Chronic sleep deprivation can negatively impact the way you think, learn, get along with others and react. Lack of sleep undermines the parts of your brain that help regulate emotion and can be dangerous; drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving.