Pledge to get more Zzzz's (7 to 9 hours of sleep) tonight.


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How to do it

Today, make a pledge to get more Zzzz's. Tonight, turn the TV and computer off and go to bed early enough so you can get a solid seven to nine hours of sleep. Make sure your bedroom is quiet and dark, your pillows are comfortable, and the room temperature neither too warm nor too cool for sleeping. When you wake up tomorrow, you might not even have to hit the snooze button.



Why it matters

How much sleep we get impacts our overall well-being. Our bodies use sleep to process and store memories, repair cells, and release hormones (the body's natural chemical messengers) that regulate appetite and up bone density. There is evidence that chronic sleep deprivation may lead to significant health problems, like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Sleep needs are individual: You may feel rested and function well on just seven hours of sleep a night, while another person your age and gender has to get nine hours a night to feel her or his best. However, most experts agree that adults, even as they get older, need at least seven to nine hours of continuous, uninterrupted sleep each night to function properly.



Fun Fact

A new baby brings joy, but typically causes his or her parents to lose between 400 to 750 hours of sleep in the first year alone.