ARE YOU RUNNING ON EMPTY?
By: Sue Phaneuf, LMHC Student Intern Sleep deprivation is common in our culture. Some people choose to get away with less sleep yet lack of it can actually make us less productive, even if you feel as though you are getting more done. Sleep deprivation can actually do much more than hurt your productivity. According to a recent report by MSNBC*, When we deprive ourselves of sleep, this can affect both our mental health and our physical health. These are a few possible effects of poor sleep hygiene: Fatigue, irritability, careless mistake, difficulty concentrating, and slower reaction times which add up to increased stress levels. My biggest concern is the affect lack of sleep has on our relationships, our performance at work or school, and our ability to enjoy life. Many studies have been done which sleep deprivation increases the risk of injury and accidents at work or on the road. After a few days of sleep deprivation our body undergoes changes similar to “fast-forward” aging,