Psychology 100 C

Julie Reese

10/19/05

The Night Time Slumber Blues

"In the tiredness battle, sleep always wins" (Meyers 2004). There may not be a more important activity for the human body than sleep. A normal human being actually sleeps "roughly one-third of his or her lifetime, some 25 years" (Meyers 2004). Sleep is a peaceful time of beautiful dreams, rest, relaxation, growth, and much needed recuperation for our tired bodies. Sleep is critical yet "there has been a 20% decline in total average sleep time since the turn of the century, without any biological change in the body's need for sleep" (Meisler 1998). Why is this? There are many factors that contribute to sleep deficit in today's fast-paced, ever changing world. To treat and prevent this growing sleep deficit, people need to have a better understanding of what a sleep deficit actually is, and also the devastating effects it can have...