Sleep is a time of
intense neurological activity -- a rich time of renewal, memory consolidation,
brain and neurochemical cleansing, and cognitive maintenance.
We actually have far
more discretionary time than we realize.
The key is taking an honest look at how we spend it.
Cutting back on
sleep is a fantastic way to gain weight.
Being awake for
seventeen to nineteen hours (a normal day for many of us!), we can experience
levels of cognitive impairment equal to having a blood alcohol level of .05
percent.
This washing-away of
waste chemicals and toxins happens only when we sleep -- when we're awake, the
brain is too busy handling our body's many functions.