My Relationship With Sleep

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Sleep, a time when we lay down and rest after all the stressful activities of the day, ignoring sleep may cause breakdown to the human system
My relationship with sleep has not been healthy for a while now. On some nights, I get a comfortable sleep. On others, I don't feel the urge to even sleep due to some reasons as will be discussed. But one thing is for sure — sleep plays a huge role in my life, whether I like it or not.

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How many hours of sleep do you usually get each night, and do you think it’s enough?

How Many Hours Do I Sleep?

Normally, I sleep for about 5 hours. Which is below the recommended 7-8 hours, and this as somehow become a habit which is bad. Sometimes I try to sleep early, but before I know it, I am already on my phone, scrolling through social media, watching a movie or even playing games. And when morning comes, I find it hard to get out of bed, and get up looking like someone just fought a war in their dreams.

Do I think it’s enough?

Not really. I notice that when I sleep less, I feel tired throughout the day. I loose focus easily, to the extent that small tasks that I carry out normally seems too great. But when I get a good sleep, the reverse is the case; as I wake up feeling refreshed, strong, maximum focus and good vibes. That alone tells me I need to take my sleep more seriously.

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Do you follow any sleep routine (like reading, meditation, avoiding screens)?

Do I Follow a Sleep Routine?

I’ve tried a few routines, honestly. Sometimes, I read before bed. That helps a lot. A good book calms my mind and takes me away from the stress of the day. Other times, I listen to soft music or even use sleep apps with relaxing nature sounds. But those are on the good days.

Most nights, I stay glued to my phone. That’s where the problem starts. The blue light from the screen messes with my brain and keeps me awake longer. Even after reading many articles warning about this, I still find it hard to stop when that’s my only form of entertainment.

I’ve also tried avoiding heavy meals late at night because I noticed that whenever I eat something spicy or fatty around bedtime, I end up feeling uncomfortable and restless during my sleep

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What disturbs your sleep the most? (noise, stress, mobile, late-night eating?

What Disturbs My Sleep the Most?

Three main things disturb my sleep: the phone, stress, and noise.

1. Phone – Like I mentioned earlier, my phone is both my companion and my biggest sleep thief. Once I open tiktok and start watching reels, before I know it, 2 to 3 hours are gone. When I could use that time to be sleeping.

2. Stress – This is the number one enemy of sleep. When I have something bothering me — maybe financial issues, family stress, or upcoming exams — my mind won’t let me rest. I’ll stay up overthinking until I finally sleep by force, not by choice.

3. Noise – I’m someone that easily gets irritated by sound. If my neighbor is playing loud music on their speaker or someone is watching TV loudly, forget it — I won’t sleep. That’s why I sometimes use earplugs or play soft music to block out the environment.

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Tell us about the negative impacts of not taking enough sleep and positive impacts of taking enough sleep on our health

The Effects of Not Getting Enough Sleep

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Lack of sleep has really dealt with me in the past. It weakens the body and brain. When I don’t sleep well, it messes with my memory as I forget things easily and I hardly concentrate whether in class in worst cases I loose concentration while talking to someone.

I experience mood swings, I could get easily irritated, sad , this not good for socialization. My appetite also changes — sometimes I overeat to keep myself awake, which isn’t healthy.

Worst of all, my skin starts acting up. I get dark circles, dry skin, and pimples. It’s crazy how the body reflects what’s happening on the inside.

The Benefits of Proper Sleep

Good sleep has a very great benefit— let’s say sleep of up to 7 to 8 hours — it feels like magic. I wake up with a clear mind, full of energy, and ready to face the day. I make better decisions, I feel happier, and my body also looks better. My skin glows more, and I feel lighter.
Sleep also boosts my immune system. I hardly fall sick when I rest well for days. It’s like my body thanks me for taking care of it.

Conclusion

To Sleep is not only about closing your eyes. It is important as it helps in the aspect healing, recovery, and preparation. If not taken seriously, it's effects on the body system is dangerous. To build better habits, reduce screen time, avoid stress, and most importantly, value rest as much as I value hustle.
Because no matter how hard you work, without proper sleep, your body breakdown and everything else slowly falls apart, so is it not better to prevent breakdown by getting adequate sleep? Let's think about this

What do you think @abdullahw2

I invite @promisezella @mr-peng @imohmitch to participate in this contest