As I arrived two minutes late for my weekly staff meeting, still under the influence of the OTC sleeping pill I took the night before, I announced my topic for our pepper-upper... SLEEP.
Those of us who suffer from sleep depravation are well aware of the penalties we are assessed in our personal lives and career lives. We know that this problem effects how we interact with others and therefore, it matters greatly that we do all we can to get our 8+ hours of sleep daily... or as often as possible.
Briefly: Sleep happens in stages; we need to cycle through the REM stage and non-REM stage many times throughout the night. The non-REM stage is very important and is made up of four stages, each just as important as the other. (Caffeine affects one of these four stages, negatively.) During one of the stages the brain secretes a growth hormone, all you short people better listen-up. During one of the stages there is a "calcium wash" (Ohio State U. research paper). This calcium wash refreshes our abilities to: remember, concentrate, think and learn.
It was obvious to me yesterday that I had to begin paying back my sleep debt. I have been complaining about my lapses in memory for months. I have been unable to sleep well for many months. I am quite 'tired' of snapping my fingers and smacking my forehead as I remember that I forgot! Yesterday was the proverbial last straw. I am confessing so that anyone who saw me can't come back and blackmail me later... yes, that was I, the dizzy broad who went into the sprayers-on carwash with her sunroof OPEN!
I've decided to volunteer my life for a new Reality Show concept. They could just follow me around with a camera and the audience would be rolling on the floor. Let's see... what would we name it? Menopause Moments? Forgetting to Remember? ...
"Sleep loss impairs our memory, concentration, ability to think and learn, ability to concentrate on work and ultimately leads to depression. Poor sleep results in irritability and affects our relationship with our family, friends and coworkers." (Source, MSNBC News / Today / Dr. Judith Reichman)
I will now read the sleep article I wrote, found at the end of Chapter three in the workbook. "I love my bed. I love my pillow... I am a good sleeper."
Good night, sleep tight... don't let the bed bugs bite... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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