The Silent Epidemic
”Globally, insufficient sleep is prevalent across various age groups, considered to be a public health epidemic that is often unrecognized, under-reported, and that has rather high economic costs,” study published in the National Library of Medicine.
More than 30% of American adults report getting less than the recommended amount of sleep. In a hyper-stimulated society where the “hustle,” productivity, and optimization are put on a pedestal, the necessity of quality sleep is often put on the back burner.
Technology and thus increasing exposure to blue light has been proven to disrupt the body’s natural circadian rhythm. Studies are showing every day that our society is more stressed out, burnt out, and sleep deprived than they have ever been before. Not to mention the collective narrative around sleep is often far from supportive, equating sleep to laziness and staying up all night working as an achievement.
The truth of the matter is that sleep is a nonnegotiable and absolutely necessary for physical, mental, and societal health. Growing evidence has linked sleep deprivation to seven of the 15 leading causes of death in the United States. And is believed to contribute significantly to physical (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity), mental (depression, anxiety, mood disorders), and societal (vehicle and workplace accidents) concerns.
Sleep is our body’s natural and absolutely necessary process of recovery. Proper sleep, or lack thereof, trickles into every aspect of our functioning from digestion and immunity to memory and focus, energy, motivation, detoxification and so much more.
The positive take on this crucial understanding is that getting quality sleep is something we have the power to change. By prioritizing sleep we have the ability to improve our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, as well as elevate the overall health of our society and our place in it.
Proper sleep can be achieved through a balance of behavioral practices, diet, and supplementation. Actively choosing to turn off our computers and phones while getting ready for sleep, participating in meditation, breathwork, or other activities that calm our nervous system, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, may seem simple or obvious, but they make an immense difference in our quality of sleep.
Giving our body what it needs to sleep deeper, including melatonin, hemp extract, and other natural ingredients is another powerful way to support our capacity to fall asleep faster and experience more rejuvenating and healthy sleep patterns.
Sharing our stories and creating conversations about the importance of sleep can help us to change the collective narrative and raise awareness of this important concern. Together, by taking care of ourselves and holding space for others, we have the opportunity to reverse the implications of the current sleep epidemic and enact a powerful shift towards overall wellness.
In what ways could you improve your sleep experience? Check out our blog for inspiration.
