Sleep is vital for our physical and mental wellbeing, and getting good quality sleep can reduce some of the risk factors associated with serious health problems.
The following questionnaire was put together by Dr. Jeremy Sutton, prominent Positive Psychology practitioner, writer and researcher studying the human capacity to push physical and mental limits.
Are You Sleep Deprived? True or False
- I need an alarm clock in order to wake up at the appropriate time
- It’s a struggle for me to get out of bed in the morning
- Weekday mornings I hit the snooze button several times to get more sleep
- I feel tired, irritable and stressed out during the week
- I have trouble concentrating and remembering
- I feel slow with critical thinking, problem-solving and being creative
- I often fall asleep watching TV
- I often fall asleep after heavy meals or after a low dose of alcohol
- I often fall asleep while relaxing after dinner
- I often fall asleep within five minutes of getting into bed
- I often feel drowsy while driving
- I often sleep extra hours on weekend mornings
- I often need a nap to get through the day
- I have dark circles under my eyes
If you answered “true” to two or more of these statements, you likely have a sleep problem. Now, you may be thinking this questionnaire is so broad that any adult over the age of 30 will answer “true” to at least two of these questions. But keep in mind that as of May 2022, almost half of all Americans say they feel sleepy during the day three to seven days a week and that over 35 % of all adults in the U.S. report sleeping less than 7 hours a night. Adults between the ages of 18 and 64 need between 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night to feel refreshed and function properly.
It’s Never Too Late To Change Your Sleep Habits
If that’s not enough to convince you, mull over these facts: Insufficient sleep has been linked to the development and management of a number of chronic diseases and conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. On the other hand, getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do to improve your physical and mental performance. Sleep helps you recover from injuries faster, it improves your overall health and resistance to illness.
For tips on how you can improve your sleep just by changing some of your daily habits, check out my post on sleep hygiene.
And, in case you’re wondering, when I first filled out the above sleep questionnaire, I answered “true” to 7 of the 14 questions. But I’m happy to report that after implementing some of the most important do’s and don’ts of sleep hygiene, I am getting more and better sleep and I can honestly answer “false” to most or all of those questions on a regular basis. Even the dark circles under my eyes are disappearing!
How did you make out? Still think your sleep is “just fine”?