why are we talking about sleep

As kids, we read stories of people doing manual labour and then falling asleep under a tree to start afresh. As time passed technology took hold of all day to day activities and fast paced life with less physical labour became the norm. Sleep which is the most basic and natural human need took a major hit. It is becoming elusive and the natural hours of sleeping are getting eroded by the multiple inputs provided by electronic gadgets and other technological inventions which have taken precedence in our life.

The lack of sleep and its associated problems have become a global concern as more and more people are getting affected. A good sleep cycle is essential for the immune system, metabolism, hormonal regulation and cardiovascular health to function normally. It is also crucial for our emotional well being, memory consolidation, learning , problem solving and decision making abilities. Thus the risk of chronic health conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke are being common in younger age groups. Fatigue, frequent mood changes, impaired motor skills increasing the risk of accidents and injuries, raised blood pressure, depression and premature aging are some important signs of inadequate sleep.

The Friday before spring equinox has been dedicated as world sleep day. It was started in 2008 and fell on the 15th of march this year with the theme of ' sleep equity for global health'. This annual event is organised by the world sleep society which aims to increase awareness as well as propagate preventive measures and management techniques of sleep disorders.

March is the sleep awareness month with its slogan of 'better sleep, better life, better planet'. It is gradually becoming popular around the globe as the detrimental effects of sleep inadequacy is becoming recognised. Sleep tourism is now a reality where people are encouraged to take time off from their hectic schedule and relax in the sessions to improve their quality of life. Also called napcation or nap tourism it includes sleep tourism hotels, pillow menus, sleep concierge, wellness destinations etc for complete rejuvenation. Their business is expected to grow exponentially by 2028 as more and more people are willing to spend on snoozecations.

On a smaller scale festival of sleep day has been followed by many Western countries on the 3rd of January every year to shake off the tiredness of Christmas and get back to work. It is a realisation of the importance of sleep for proper functioning of mind and body encouraging people to take a nap or just relax and get rejuvenated. We should all take cognizance of sleep days and improve the quality of our lives.