World Sleep Day was first held on March 14, 2008, and has since been celebrated annually as part of the World Health Organization’s efforts to address sleep and health issues. In 2013, it fell on March 15th.4 photos

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Sleep is a unique form of existence for the human body, just as complex as waking life. During proper sleep, the body recovers the energy expended during the day and “reorganizes itself.” This is why a healthy person wakes up feeling fresh and energized.

On World Sleep Day, various social campaigns are launched, and conferences and seminars are held to discuss issues related to sleep and the impact of sleep disorders on both individual health and society as a whole. A balanced diet, a regular daily routine, and sufficient sleep time are essential for maintaining long-term physical and mental well-being.

Averaging, each person spends one-third of their life asleep. During sleep, brain activity decreases significantly, and reactions become slower.

It has been proven that prolonged periods of lack of sleep negatively affect quality of life: humor diminishes, irritability increases, and people tend to dwell on the same problems repeatedly. Even a loss of just 4 hours of sleep can reduce reaction time by 45%. Memory declines, and the risk of various diseases may increase.

Medics consider poor sleep a precursor to future strokes, heart attacks, hypertension, and other serious illnesses. On the other hand, adequate sleep is an effective way to prevent cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and many other conditions. Lack of sleep not only reduces productivity but also leads to psychological problems. Sleep helps the brain eliminate excess substances by removing unnecessary proteins from neural connections.

To get sufficient sleep, it is important to follow some simple rules: avoid accumulating long periods of lack of sleep, refrain from consuming alcohol and caffeine before bed, and avoid eating too much before bedtime. There should be at least 4 hours between dinner and bedtime.However, sleeping for too long can be just as harmful as not getting enough sleep. Experts recommend that adults sleep 7–8 hours per night. Some believe that women need an extra hour of sleep due to their more emotional nature. Children require at least 10 hours of sleep per day to ensure proper development. Adequate sleep can help reduce symptoms of ADHD and improve behavior.

Let this World Sleep Day serve as another reminder to pay attention to our sleep and, thereby, promote our overall health. Wishing you all a pleasant, healthy, and restful night’s sleep!

Interestingly, in July, Finland celebrates the popular “Sleepy Day” festival.