Don’t you hate it when you’re working on your computer and every task you ask it to do takes longer than watching the grass grow?

At that point, your computer probably needs defragging, which allows your computer to rearrange all its data properly and free up more space to run more efficiently.  The same is true for humans to run more efficiently, but instead of defragging, we sleep.

Sleep helps the brain to learn through a process called memory consolidation. In one study, participants had to repeatedly type a sequence on a keyboard.

Group A trained in the morning and then tested 12 hours later showed no significant improvement. But a full night's sleep improved their performance by almost 20 percent!

Group B, trained in the evening and improved their performance by about 20 percent after a full night's sleep as well. But after another 12 hours of staying awake, they showed hardly any improvement at all. This shows that sleep, not time, aids our ability to learn.

Sleep also helps our cells repair and rejuvenates the body.  In fact, the human growth hormone HGH is secreted during sleep! 

A lack of sleep not only makes you feel lousy the next day and dramatically lowers your mental alertness, but in time chronic sleep deprivation can cause you to gain weight, age quicker and has even been linked to heart disease and Alzheimers! 

So when Mom told you to “sleep on it,” or to be sure and “get your beauty sleep,” she was clearly giving you very good advice!  Even though, these days, a good night’s sleep seems harder to come by, simply improving your daytime habits and creating a better sleep environment can set the stage for a lifetime of good sleep and sweet dreams!