What Is Sleep Deprivation?

In the most basic sense of the word, sleep deprivation means not getting enough sleep. The average adult needs between 7 - 8 hours of sleep per night. When you get less than that - or no sleep at all - it’s called sleep deprivation. 

Why Don’t People Sleep?

There are a number of reasons that people may not be sleeping. Stress, sleep disorders like insomnia or simply staying up too late too many days in a row can all lead to sleep deprivation.

The Physical & Emotional Impact of Sleep Deprivation

Sleep impacts every part of you, your body and - ultimately - your life. When suffering from sleep deprivation or when not getting enough sleep you can feel physical and emotional symptoms. 

These can include, but are not limited to:

• Incredible fatigue

• Irritability

• Mood irregularity 

• Difficulty focusing

Being moody, tired and having the inability to focus can have a negative impact on your personal relationship and career. In some cases, it can even be dangerous; sleep deprivation paired with long morning commutes or for those who operate machinery for work could be putting themselves or others at risk. 

The Impact of Less Sleep When You Do Sleep

There are a few different cycles that your body goes through when you sleep. On a basic level, these are light sleep, deep sleep and REM ( Rapid Eye Movement). When your body detects that you aren’t getting enough sleep, the brain defaults to light sleep and less REM. 

This is dangerous in long-term cases because REM is critical to learning, making and retaining memory. Everyday tasks can become more and more challenging as your body is only getting the minimum of what it needs. These different sleep cycles, after all, exist for a reason. 

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Sleep Deprivation?

Have you ever had a bad night's sleep or stayed up too late with friends and thought to yourself, “It’s okay - I’ll just sleep in tomorrow”? While the idea of “making up” sleep is correct, it’s not quite as simple as that. It can take up to 4 days - or nights - of quality sleep to make up for 1 hour of lost sleep. 

Recovering from sleep deprivation can take up to 9 days. In the grand scheme of other health challenges, 9 days is nothing. But it means committing to making a change in sleep habits and bedtime routines for over a week. After that, any reversion to old habits will simply allow you to slip back into sleep deprivation. 

A Sleeping Lifestyle

Prioritizing sleep on weekends only isn’t enough. Proper sleep care is just as valuable as physical or mental care. Since they all go together, making sleep a priority is vital to living a healthy and full life.