Blog Post: Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep

Editorial Note: I’m reblogging this article I wrote about three years ago for those of you who didn’t see it or get to read it the first time around

Do you feel sluggish during the day? Or do you find it hard to concentrate on any type of task you might be doing at work and instead you want to just take a nap? Well, you’re not alone.

All these symptoms point to one problem area: You’re probably not getting enough sleep. In fact, a third of Americans between the ages 18-60 don’t get the recommended seven hours of sleep a night that supports a healthy lifestyle. As bicyclists, not getting enough sleep at night can adversely affect performance on the bike and zap your energy when out on your daily training ride, event ride, or even during a race.

These points are in addition to the fact that sleep deprivation can add a level of danger to an already dangerous activity. Riding a bike on a public road requires all your attention.  However, if you are feeling tired from lack of rest and poor sleep, your reaction time to what is happening in front of you diminishes and you will be more prone to a crash or some other type of accident.

Basic Information About Sleep Deprivation

While people who sleep seven hours a night should feel more refreshed the next morning, for many Americans that’s just not the case. 35% of people state that their sleep quality is either “poor” or “fair” and they don’t feel rested, which is also the case for people who maintain rigorous sleep schedules by going to bed and waking at specific times each day. When asked, people stated the reasons for their poor sleep have to do with dissatisfaction with their lives and stress.

This situation is true among both men and women where women seem to suffer from insomnia and men sleep apnea. And due to poor sleep quality, a percentage of people report taking naps at least one day a week but some take naps every day.

Reasons for Lack of Good Sleep

There can be many reasons or factors why we suffer from a lack of good sleep. Besides life dissatisfaction and stress, factors like a poor diet, little to no exercise, alcohol use, and heavy reliance on electronic devices before bed like televisions, computers, and smartphones can interrupt sleep patterns. Here is a list of other reasons why people may not get enough sleep:

• Sleep apnea – Both men and women can suffer from this breathing-related problem.
• Pain – Lack of sleep can make you more sensitive to it.
• Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) – This condition can lead to heart disease and depression.
• Depression
• Poor sleep habits

Good, restorative sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle. If you’re feeling tired, run-down, or generally fatigued, review some of the items above and see if you can make an improvement in any of these areas.

See Your Doctor

Remember that lack of sleep can lead to serious health problems, such as obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure. If you believe you are doing all the right things (or at least some of them) and you still feel you are not getting enough sleep, you could also see your doctor who might prescribe a sleep aid or even suggest that you participate in a sleep study.

Author: Doug McNamee

Freelance Content Writer, Travel Writer, Editor, and poet. View all posts by Doug McNamee