Today's New York Times article notes the latest trend in self-improvement fads, products that help improve your life while you sleep.
These kind of products have been around since the 1950s, but the latest additions like pills that promise to help you lose weight or contacts that presume to improve your eyesight by reshaping your cornea while you sleep, seem a bit incredulous and unsafe to me.
Don't get me wrong, I too could use to slim down a few pounds and have been a contact wearer since the age of 14 but I'm pretty skeptical when it comes to gimmicks such as these. As an educated consumer, I know that the only things that will help me lose weight are a healthy diet and exercise, of course a personal trainer and/or a motivator wouldn't hurt either. As for my eyesight, I'm still weighing the Laser technology that's been around for years. And, who enjoys sleeping with their contacts in? Can we all say "conjuctivitis?"
There just isn't a quick fix trick!
Even plastic surgery patients who have their fat liposuctioned can get fat again if they don't change their diet or lifestyle. Another problem with this kind of quick fix is excess skin that stays flabby and sags from not being allowed to slowly contract back from its stretched-out version.
In fact, the whole point of sleeping is to give our bodies and mind a break, to rejuvenate, regenerate and reenergize.
Studies have shown that our society isn't getting enough sleep, nor are our children. They note that adults need 8-10 hours of sleep everyday. Some even argue that teenagers should have later school hours to allow them to get the sleep they so sorely need.
Sleep clinics emphasize that people who have trouble sleeping shouldn't keep possible distractions in the room, that they should move work stations and TVs to other rooms, and even turn their clocks around so that they don't notice the time. Blinds should be pulled down and the room should be completely dark and quiet.
Other recent studies have shown that people who work in sleep deprived, demanding and stressful jobs such as police officers, truck drivers and doctors are often as judgment impaired as drunk drivers due to a regular lack of sleep.
I don't think anyone would disagree that a healthy lifestyle should include sleeping well daily. Most people get by with 6.5 hours. Personally, I get 8 hours daily. Some might call me spoiled, but I know my body. On weekends, I can sometimes sleep even longer, up to even 12 hours and let me tell you ... it's called beauty sleep for a reason! After a night of great sleep, my skin glows, my eyes are clear and bright and even my pores look tighter. My sleeping hours are already productive, if beauty and great health is the ends to the mean.
On weekdays, I crave the "productive" sleep I get on the weekends. Not only do I feel tired, irritable and low on energy but it shows as well. My eyes are often bloodshot from sleeping with my contacts on during my commute, I get sunken circles under my eyes and my skin is tinged with blue from my veins.
So it really amazes me that someone would see "while you sleep" as a great marketing technique. Not only does it amaze me but it also really upsets me. Sleep is sacred to me. I think adequate sleep is a sort of cure-all in itself, as is less stress, laughing often and sharing your life with a pet.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-09-2007 @ 9:21AM
Al Thode said...
You are right. We are a nation of sleep deprived individuals, due to many factors. However, one thing you did not mention--choosing the right mattress for your particuliar body size, weight and configuration. There are many choices out there from traditional coil springs, foam, air, gel and God knows what else. I personally prefer the air adjustable sleep surface. Not only are there no springs to wear out, but, once adjusted, they give a wonderful nights sleep. I have tried the "sweedish foam" system, and found it to sleep too hot, and I could not move around easily. And, depending on your weight, coil spring beds can wear out very quickly. You may pay a little bit more for the right mattress, but you should be spending 1/3 of your life there. It's worth the money!
1-09-2007 @ 9:20AM
Jim Beske said...
I would have an intelligent response to this .. but fell asleep 1/2 way through and just now woke up when my scroll reached the bottom of the page :)
1-09-2007 @ 9:19AM
Bob Cuddy said...
There is a new alternative for sleeping that may aid many for a comfortable sleep. The SquidFace and ComfyRest pillows were invented and patented so that I could truly lie facedown comfortably and breathe without turning my head to the side. It works well on a desk for a quick power nap. Is beneficial facedown, on your back or on your side. Snoring relief and many additional pain relief benefits are on my website. www.SquidFace.com
1-09-2007 @ 9:17AM
Ron said...
I work with people who are so addicted to caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and alcohol they are always "sleep deprived". Many of them seem so surprised when a serious medical condition results !!
American society, controlled so heavily by TV advertising (yes, entire programs are subtle ads for lots of "have it all now, instntly, with no responsibility, money, or effort) has created millions of airhead "shoppers" who will follow each other to the malls and super shopping centers and brainlessly buy, buy, buy.
I have seen obese teenage girls in malls with a vitamin store shopping bag ( I assume diet pills and weight-loss "remedies" are inside.), eating pizza and cinnabons and pop with their obese girlfriends.
I go to Safeway (my ATM is inside the store)and see shopping baskets overflowing with highly processed junk food, everything is no-cook, ready-to-eat, or microwaveable. Then they go to the in-store Starbucks and buy a large double-chocolate latte and a huge pastry .. then pick up some ready-made soup and ready-to-eat, high calorie food at the deli.
These habits are ingrained in Americans .. especially high-hour TV watchers. The TV is a 24 hour per day sales tool that shrewd marketing and sales professionals use to influence a person's habits, beliefs, attitudes, preferences, and lifestyle.
Seems that no amount of sleep will un-do the major damage to health that these horrible consumer habits create and perpetuate.
I urge people to travel in other countries, so they can compare American lifestyle habits with other people's habits .. and observe the results.
1-09-2007 @ 9:15AM
Tom said...
I totally agree with us as a nation getting more sleep and rest in general. Even in my business it's an issue. I own a voice over and audio production company called SunSpots Productions, http://www.sunspotsproductions.com. Personally, I've noted that as a voice over talent, the more sleep I get the better I perform. Sounds simple but you'd think "You're just talking, right?". True, but there's a lot of energy used to perform for radio and tv commercials, even with quieter reads. I think it's important for us culturally to realize that a good life has to have balance. We've conditioned ourselves to work all the time (I'm even sitting here with my laptop doing some work on this Sunday) thinking that we're going to get ahead and beat the other guy. But if we're not well rested we'll never perform to our best and ultimately suffer because of it. Luckily I've got a face for radio so I don't have to worry about the beauty benefits of sleep. So let's take the time to live our lives in balance. Enjoy your day and let's hit that snooze button tomorrow morning and be better and stronger for it.
1-09-2007 @ 9:16AM
chickadee.dee.dee. said...
I agree that lot's of people are sleep deprived, and I personally try to get 8 or more hours per night.
Even at that I end up taking a nap, anywhere from 1 - 3 hours per day. This may be from a lack of exercise. Gonna check that out at Curves and see if I can stay awake all day. A history of depression can always contribute to being a 'sleepy time gal'.
Using light therapy sure is helping my overall disposition!