Sleep. Everyone has a different relationship with sleep. Some of us need very little sleep to feel prepared for a day, but some of us need eight hours of sleep and a nap in order to survive a day. The National Sleep Foundation says there isn’t a right or wrong; sleep patterns vary on a person-to-person basis just as diet and exercise. However, sleep deprivation is believed to be the number one cause of fatigue, and the United States is the world’s leader in sleep deprivation rates.

So sleep deprivation? Do you suffer from this condition? How can you avoid it? In most Americans, sleep deprivation is a self-induced condition. It can be a regular issue, or may just occur on certain occasions. Coincidentally, it is considered the primary reason for increased sleepiness in Americans. Sleep deprivation is as simple as it sounds; it is not allowing yourself to get the proper amount of sleep. This is often done by pushing off sleep in order to do something else. It doesn’t sound like that much of an issue, right? Well, did you know that proper amounts of sleep have been proven to decrease the amount of food intake, so sleeping more might be the next diet trend!

I am as guilty of this self-induced haze as anyone. This episode of Netflix is just too good, Buzzfeed videos have you rolling, or this Instagram page has you mesmerized, but is it worth it? The internet will always be there tomorrow. Would you be willing to give up an hour of social media in order to lose weight or balance your hormones?

Your relationship with sleep is just like any relationship in life; it goes two ways. Appropriate amounts of sleep are likely to bring balance to many other areas of your life; however, our bodies don’t just turn off when they need sleep. We don’t just cut off like dead iPhones. We have to plan time for sleep. So start trying to improve your neglected relationship! Find out what kind of sleep schedule works for you! That might be five hours of sleep at night, ten hours of sleep, or a combination of a good night’s rest and a nap. Teenagers are often known for their napping habits, because most adults don’t see napping as a realistic option; however, thirty-five percent of workplaces are said to allow their employees to nap on break, and fifteen percent of workplaces are said to provide amenities for napping, so there is hope for napping in the adult world!

Don’t think that just because you sleep less or more than another person that something is wrong. Sleep has specific way with each of us. We just have to accept it and allow sleep to benefit us! Take this time to think about ways you could improve your sleeping habits, so that sleep can improve your life! After all, how many times has sleep provided the clear solution to a complex situation or the patience to deal with a challenging individual? Given the chance, sleep may improve your life in ways you never thought possible!