Getting Enough Rest
Although sleep experts have long espoused the benefits of achieving optimal sleep time of seven to eight hours per night, Park concedes that individual sleep needs vary and it is therefore difficult to pinpoint the optimal sleep time for everyone. “Some people are rested at six to seven hours, others at nine to 10 hours, if so, that’s your optimal sleep. If, however, you are not refreshed after substantial time or if you need more sleep but keep waking up this signals a problem.†Park says that sufferers who do not fit the common profile of a common sleep disorder may experience other symptoms, which include being tired despite length of sleep, headaches, migraines, digestive problems, low or high blood pressure, and lightheadedness. He explains, “The inability to sleep well also interferes with the body’s hormone balance. In women, therefore, it may result in worsening pre-menstrual and menopausal symptoms.â€
As for Slater, he understands the importance of paying attention to what his body is telling him and keeping it all in balance. “After more than a few brushes with death, I understand what’s relevant. It doesn’t mean you stop living. You make choices and eliminate certain things and come to understand that you can live happily with what remains.â€