A confession: I like to sleep.
Not only do I like to sleep, I do sleep. I usually get somewhere around eight hours a night; often more on the weekends. I've never pulled an all-nighter--no term paper has ever come between me and at least six hours of sleep.
I am going to make a terrible lawyer.
Why is it that not sleeping is so cool? At least in my recent experience--with high schoolers and law students--getting eight hours of sleep is rare and indulgent. It is actually trendy to drag your ass into class, large coffee in hand, after only three or four hours of sleep. And people let you know that they only got three hours of sleep last night; nobody ever announces that they got a fabulous eight hours.
I am here to tell you that I got a fabulous eight hours. And you should, too.
Check out the recent NPR article, In Today's World, the Well-Rested Lose Respect, with sleep researcher Dr. Eve Van Cauter. This article illustrates, all scientifical-like, what I have known all along: not sleeping is not cool.
Van Cauter believes we are in a period now very similar to where we were with smoking 20 years ago. She envisions a time 20 years from now, when knowledge, research and even litigation (perhaps lawsuits against sleep-deprived drivers who cause accidents) will combine to change public perception so that lack of sleep is finally seen as dangerous, not something to be proud of.
Go have a nap and don't feel the least bit guilty about it. In fact, order yourself a Holly Golightly Sleep Mask, turn off the telephone, and enjoy some beauty rest.
Sleep, darlings, is always in style. Spread the word.
I sleep 8 hours plus every night...I also sleep about 12 on the weekends. I slept all through finals week. I sleep more during finals than I do any other time. I also take naps. I felt guilty, until I saw a doctor on Oprah who said it ain't no thing to sleep. If you are tired, sleep...etc.
SLEEP ON!
Posted by: Faithsalutes | January 28, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Amen! I am a diehard sleeper and never want to apologize for it. Lack of sleep is just, well, OVERRATED.
Posted by: Anne | January 28, 2008 at 10:15 PM
We should start a club! If I don't get AT LEAST 8 hours a night I am a total wench. And I feel hungover. I try to get 9 hours every night.
p.s. I want Holly GL's ear plugs. The ones with the tassels :)
Posted by: Ashlie | January 29, 2008 at 01:16 AM
Amen... =) I love sleeping too.
Posted by: Amanda | January 29, 2008 at 01:41 AM
Yes ma'am. It's 1:35am, and I am going to bed right now because you ordered me to.
Posted by: Larissa | January 29, 2008 at 01:42 AM
Amen... =) I love sleeping too.
Posted by: Amanda | January 29, 2008 at 01:42 AM
hallelujah! i must get at least 8 hours of sleep and i really think my body prefers 9. and you know what? i am completely fine with that.
Posted by: jami | January 29, 2008 at 04:41 AM
Oh my goodness! A woman that understands me! I LOVE sleep.
Wade: Do you want a beer?
Me: Nah, it will make me sleepy.
Wade: Everything makes you sleepy.
It's true, I love sleep and sleep loves me. There is not a moment in a day that I could not successfully lay down and sleep for at least four hours.
Malia
Posted by: Malia | January 29, 2008 at 05:34 AM
I am right there with you - I love sleep and have never pulled an all-nighter. If being tired is what it takes to be cool, I'm fine being a world-class loser.
Posted by: Janssen | January 29, 2008 at 07:09 AM
I know! I am in bed by at least 10 every night I don't get up until 7:30am. Some people are so crazy! Sleep is so good!
Posted by: Sarah | January 29, 2008 at 07:23 AM
I take a nap every Saturday and Sunday when my toddlers nap. I LOVE TO SLEEP! Definitely 7 hours a night for me (get up an hour early to work out -- used to be a full 8 hours before kids!)
Posted by: Pamela | January 29, 2008 at 07:54 AM
I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one out there that actually went to college and never pulled an all-nighter. Sleep is so essential for me, too. After about 12:30 a.m., I'm pretty useless and trying to study, or do anything productive is pretty much a lost cause.
Posted by: Sijbrich | January 29, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Do you look these articles up to fit your post? Just curious >_>;
Posted by: Alan | January 29, 2008 at 09:30 AM
I, too, never pulled an all-nighter in college. Never ever! Sleep is one of the things that allows me to function. Everybody knows I love my sleep!
Posted by: BethanyWD | January 29, 2008 at 09:56 AM
See... I sleep too much. If I'm left to my own devices, no matter if I go to bed at 9pm or 9am, I can sleep for at LEAST 12 hours. Usually 14. I so wish I were one of those people who could actually wake up to an alarm clock and who can naturally wake up at 8am on weekends!
Posted by: Traci | January 29, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Ohh, I adore sleep too. Especially mid-afternoon naps on the weekends. Those are my favorite :)
Posted by: Katie | January 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I've pulled plenty of all nighters in college, but I don't think any of them had to do with studying...
But really, it's not just sleep that's "uncool." I mean, really, there are many things that are good for you that are "uncool" in the same way. Like, eating healthily. Or exercising. "You work out five times a week? You must be crazy!"
I don't know why people have such an aversion to *gasp* things that are good for them. Maybe deep down, everybody still wants to be that "bad" boy that doesn't follow the rules (well, in this case, standards of good living...?). That, or we're just too lazy to make time for [whatever], whether it be making a decent meal, working out, or even getting a full night's sleep (as crazy as that sounds).
For the record, I love sleep, but I only get like, 5 or 6 hours a night. But I take naps during the day, so... I guess it works for me.
Posted by: mikey | January 29, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Unfortunately, I have pulled my fair share of all-nighters and just plain long nights in college and now in my profession, Architecture. You have to do what you have to do sometimes, I however still love sleep when I can get it. I never see it as bragging about the lack of sleep... they just want some sympathy!
Posted by: Jen | January 29, 2008 at 03:30 PM
i love sleep too! i just wish i got more of it. i however don't think its cool when i only sleep 4 hours.
Posted by: Kenzie | January 29, 2008 at 04:06 PM
I love naps! Sometimes after dinner I curl up for an hour nap in between doing things around the house :-) I think I might have to invest in one of those masks too, they are adorable.
Posted by: Unnaturally Blonde | January 29, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Totally agree! Me + 8 hours = a happy, functioning human being. My sister manages political campaigns and can literally go for days without sleeping. I don't understand how we're related!?
Posted by: Miss Scarlett | January 29, 2008 at 06:04 PM
I love to sleep, too! I love catnaps as well. If I don't get enough sleep, it'll be a bad day for me and those around me.
Posted by: michelle | January 30, 2008 at 04:39 PM
I did four years of college, three years of law school, and the bar exam and never even considered pulling an all-nighter. If it's any comfort, I'm now a lawyer and still getting my 8+ hours a night.
Posted by: Mandy | February 01, 2008 at 11:02 AM