Happy New Year!

Chances are, you’ve made some New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps your resolutions center on improving your physical fitness: I’m going to lose some weight. I’m going to go to the gym. I’m going to use my treadmill (for something other than hanging clothes). I’m going to work on my diabetes. Or you may be focusing on your relationships: I’m going to strengthen my marriage. I want a better sex life. I’ll spend more time with my family. Or you could be thinking about your job: I’m going to be more productive. I’m going to get a promotion.

What strikes me about all of these resolutions is that, for millions of people, all of these resolutions can simply be rephrased as: I’m going to meet my body’s need for sleep. That’s right – simply meeting your body’s need for sleep can help you meet all of these goals. And conversely, not getting adequate rest is a surefire way to derail even the best-intended resolution.

Want to lose weight? Get better sleep.
Want to improve your athletic performance? Get better sleep.
Want to lower your blood pressure or better control your diabetes? Get better sleep.
Want to increase your marital satisfaction? Get better sleep.
And so on, and so on.

Sleep is a basic human need, and there is not a bodily system or function that doesn’t suffer when we do not meet our body’s need for sleep. Sleep is as important to health and well being as diet and exercise. So in a nation where a majority of adults don’t regularly get an adequate amount of rest, perhaps the best New Year’s resolution is: I’m going to get better sleep.

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Sleep by Dr. Craig Schwimmer