The Survival Guide for Working Moms (and Other Stressed-Out Adults)

Rise and Shine: Getting Enough Sleep

Are you and your family getting enough sleep?

When it is time to get up in the morning, do you hit the snooze button to get another 5 or 10 minutes of sleep? Do other family members need repeated prodding to get out of bed? Do the adults in your family rely on coffee, cola, or other forms of caffeine throughout the day to stay alert?

Studies show that sleep deprivation is rampant, and we are getting less sleep than previous generations.¹ Kids are getting much less sleep than is recommended.² Most of us are getting up at about the same time in the mornings as adults and children always have—it’s that everyone is going to sleep later. Some blame too many scheduled activities, too much stimulation and too much caffeine. Others blame our “24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week” lifestyle, which makes it possible to do almost anything at any hour, including watching TV, shopping, catching up on work, and emailing friends.

There was a time, of course, when our activities were limited by light. Now we have light whenever we want it and can take our work and distractions with us wherever we go, thanks to cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. The price for all this wonderful flexibility seems to be sleep, and we are, as it turns out, paying dearly.

¹ “Americans today get less sleep and feel worse, study shows.”

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n20_v90/ai_18743102

² “Kids 5 and Under Sleep Less than Recommended Amount of Time, USA.”

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/34388.php

To read more, get a FREE copy of our book, “The Survival Guide for Working Moms (and Other Stressed-Out Adults),” by Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D. and Brandel France de Bravo, M.P.H. Please visit our Free Gifts page at (web address) to redeem this offer.

About the authors

Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D. is the President of the National Research Center for Women & Families, a research and education charity that provides free health and safety information and works to improve policies and programs that improve the health of women, children and families. Brandel France de Bravo is the Director of Public Affairs and Communications at the National Research Center for Women & Families. For useful information about health issues that affect your family and for more information about the National Research Center for Women & Families, visit http://www.center4research.org/