What to do About Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation is awful. It ruins nearly everything. The only smiling you may ever do when sleep deprived is born from hysteria. The worst part about sleep deprivation is that it affects so many people. Some people have a medical condition that causes it while others force it upon themselves. Burning the candle at both ends, as they say, comes off as some innocent expression when in fact it is a very detrimental, even dangerous, habit.

Sleep deprivation causes:

• Depression
• Lack of productivity
• Dangerous driving conditions
• Stress

Many people take pills to stay awake, while others never slow brain stimulation enough to fall asleep, electing to stare at screens with strobing effects instead. Some people drink way too much alcohol at night and then set their alarm for early in the morning to make sure they get to work on time. At least they are present in body at work, they think, if not soul. I have even known people that will drink all night, wake up early and run 5 miles or more just to sweat the alcohol out so they can get to work with some level of vigor. You look at them throughout the day and the bags under their eyes just keep getting bigger and bigger.

Other people struggle with narcolepsy, insomnia or sleep apnea. These poor souls have no choice in their sleeplessness. They take prescription drugs to try and fall asleep, strap on CPAP machines or look for some other sort of remedy. One way or another, way too many people in this world are walking around like zombies, only half awake. That is a shame. Here are some remedies to consider if you are feeling sleep deprived.

• Go to sleep
• Sit up
• Caffeine
• Do something you find interesting

There is also exposing yourself to light.

The exposure to bright light has important effects on your body's circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is a pattern of body functions, including sleep and wakefulness, that is timed to the day-night cycle. There are some conditions such as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and circadian rhythm sleep disorders that are helped by appropriately timed exposure to bright light. In addition, bright light may help you become more alert if you are sleep deprived.

The best thing to do though, is to just sleep more. Go to bed at a reasonable time. Wake up at a reasonable time. Don’t drink during the work week. Don’t play video games until the wee hours of the morning. Take power naps. Take care of yourself and the rest of the world while you are at it. Nobody needs you falling asleep at the wheel. Solving your sleep deprivation problems will likely solve many of your other other problems, just as a matter of course.