Sleep Seems Like Such a Waste of Time.
Posted: Sunday, September 06, 2009
by Jon Searles
My mother will tell you that I was never a nap taker as a child. I would kick, scream, cry, and stare at the ceiling waiting for nap time to end. Even in nursery school when we were to layout our towel on the floor for a quick nap after lunch, I was always called down for being disruptive. "Jonathan Searles, you go to sleep right now!" my teacher would say. I would answer with tears welling up in my eyes "I'm not sweepy." The world was out there and closing my eyes meant I was going to miss some of it. Things would happen while I was slumbering.
Even today I find that sleep is a distraction. I know I need it when my body screams for rest, but I still don't want to miss anything or "waste" waking hours. Doctors differ on the amount of sleep they suggest as an average for most of us and they would say that most Americans do not get enough sleep. Seven to eight hours a night is the average they suggest for most, although there are differences for age.
Sleep is a multimillion dollar industry with promises of better night sleeping through better equipment or drug induced slumber. Since we may spent as much as one forth of our lives asleep, or in some cases over half of our lives asleep, it appears to make perfect sense to help people close their eyes and get the best sleep by possibly assigning them a "sleep number" based on the amount of air pumped into an air floatation device cleverly disguised as a mattress.
You can buy mood setters and noise makers that bubble like a creek or hum like a bee to help you find a restful noise by which to sleep. I am sure they would just make me get up to go to the bathroom more often or swat at the noise by my ear. My dad has a cpap machine that sounds like Darth Vader gargling that he wears to bed, but I guess that is another part of the sleep industry. Sleep disorder causes and remedies are very popular. I published this under www.searchwarp.com heading of "sleep disorders" because I am sure it qualifies that there is a condition or syndrome in which people dislike sleep.
In some circles we find that proper fashion is also a must for the proper sleep. Pajamas are available in all forms and thicknesses with or without foot cover and in colors that almost glow in the dark, which I would think would make it more difficult to sleep. Sleep outfits range from the clothes you wore during the day (my son's favorite) to wearing nothing at all. The nothing at all option is available to all of us but should not normally be practiced by those who tend to kick off their covers during the night, sleepwalk through the halls of hotels when traveling, or move quickly downstairs when they awake on Christmas morning.
Apparently there are also some interesting medications or drugs out there to aid those who feel they need better sleep through chemical intervention. It must be quite a problem because I see many television commercials referring to sleep problems although far fewer commercials than other types of "dysfunction".
Our world does not rest. When we were younger, the television stations would sign off every night and sign back on every morning. Today, we have 24/7 news, weather, sports, evangelical enlightment, reruns, movies, and the inalienable right to take advantage of today's offer for only 5 easy payments of $19.95. Now, for me, this just reinforces my childhood thought that the world is still moving while I am sleeping my life away.
Michael Jackson recently died from what appears to be a drug that he asked to be injected with so he could get some relief from insomnia. Essentially, he was died because he needed some sleep. Doctors and anyone that has pulled all nighters studying for final exams in college will tell you that you must have sleep or your body will cease to function. To this day I still feel that sleep steals time away from me; time to think, time to read, time to be with friends and family. Some of us may need sleep to escape everyday life because we are robbed of joy that life brings and are plagued by depression, loneliness, or illness. Many doctors believe the American people are sleep deprived. Most days this can be seen on the subways, buses, and planes as commuters drool upon their chests on the way to their final location.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could fast recharge like my cell phone battery in 1-2 hours? A world without sleep would give us twice as much human accomplishment and creativity. As it is now we need sleep to accomplish anything and rest our minds so they can be more creative. Oh well, it's Sunday afternoon and I feel a nap coming on. I just hope I don't kick, scream, cry and stare at the ceiling, which really irritates my wife.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Great article. Well done.I often wonder what life would be like without sleep. Would it be relentless and boring? Or would it be great to live for what would feel like twice as long?Please log in to respond to this comment.If we could just avoid getting tired. Quick recharge and then go again.Thanks for reading.Please log in to respond to this comment.
I have a different problem. I can't sleep. I've been getting by on four to five hours sleep a night forever. My husband says I don't seem to need it. The thing is I want it!The problem? I am a morning person, and a late night person. I'm never really tired duing the day, wouldn't dream of attempting a nap, because, like you, I think it's a waste of time, and I might miss out on something. I enjoyed your article, it reminded me I am not alone with my 'sleeping' issues. :)Please log in to respond to this comment.Brianna,I frequently can't sleep and have 4 or 5 books on my night stand that attest to that fact. I guess if we need it our bodies will make us sleep longer. Thanks for reading and commenting.Please log in to respond to this comment.
I have no problem sleeping at all and generally require around 7 hours to be feel really healthy the next day, my wife survives on a lot less sleep so she gets a head start most days. Interesting article Jon. JulianPlease log in to respond to this comment.Julian,Thanks for reading. My wife, mother, and mother in law all seem to survive on very little sleep. Just another difference between men and women?Please log in to respond to this comment.
Enjoyed the chuckle - some of us are wired to "conk out" whether we want to or not - I can't do caffeine any time of the day or night - then I sleep fine and enjoy every minute of it too...hey, maybe you hit upon an answer to road rage here? Marijo (Mary Jo)Please log in to respond to this comment.Funny thing is that I can drink caffeine anytime and still fall asleep when I need to. As for road rage, we could issue them a blanket and a pacifier and require them to take a nap. Thanks for readingPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Have you ever heard of or tried polyphastic sleep? It might be just what you are looking for.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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