Just like breathing, drinking, or eating, your body can’t do without sleep. It’s a vital part of life.
No animal doesn’t sleep. Although, some have fascinating variations. For example, dolphins sleep with one open. But that’s not all. Only half of their brains sleep at a time. They do this because they need to be partly awake if they want to be able to breathe underwater. Zebras, on the other hand, sleep standing up at times. Why? Because they need to be able to make a quick escape when predators come lurking about. Lastly, a bat sleeps upside down.
When you’re asleep, it can seem like you’re “switched off” and nothing is going on anymore. However, that’s not true. Both your body and brain are active, and they’re still doing very important things while your body sleeps. Some of these include clearing out toxins, repairing cells, regulating hormones, and organizing nerve cells.
There are a lot of things your brain is doing while you’re asleep. Among many other things, it is learning new skills, gaining creative insight, and processing memories. So, sleep helps grow, learn and thrive, which all take time.
This is why toddlers need around 13 to 16 hours of sleep every day for 1st four months they’re alive. Newborns are often asleep most of the time. Children that go to school need to sleep for around 8 to 10 hours to stay healthy. Teens, on the other hand, will do just fine with only nine hours. For grownups, generally, seven or eight hours is usually what’s recommended.
Not only should you get enough sleep, but you should also be getting good-quality sleep. Also, try to have a regular sleep schedule.