This week, Wendy Couture, the district’s safety and risk reduction manager, shares information about the health benefits of getting a good night’s rest.

How important is a good night’s rest?

When we think of all the things we find important in our daily lives that takes up the most amount of time in our days, things that come to mind might be family, activities or work, but one thing that should take up about one-third of our time is getting the right amount of sleep to reap the benefits of greater health. Getting less than six to seven hours of sleep each night results in a greater risk of developing disease.

Sleep requirements change with our age, but getting enough sleep is critical to how we function throughout the day. Some people are chronically sleep deprived.

Symptoms of sleep deprivation include:

• Sleepiness.
• Mood changes.
• Difficulty concentrating and impaired performance.
• Memory loss.
• Disorientation, hallucinations and paranoia.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the following ages are recommended to get the appropriate amount of sleep for optimum health:

Benefits of getting enough sleep:

• Fights off depression.
• Increases memory.
• Reduces stress.
• Increases health (Stronger immunity).

Getting enough sleep is as important as having a good diet and getting enough exercise in the day.

Take these steps each day to improve your sleep:

• Have a set bedtime and wake up time.
• Reduce caffeine intake before bed.
• Take time to relax prior to bed — turn off the TV and put away the phone.
• Exercise daily.
• Have a comfortable pillow and mattress.

During this hectic time of the year, it is easy to stay up late trying to get things done. Remember, losing sleep can catch up to you and increase those holiday blues.