We know sleep is so important that it's actually a biological necessity. Still, so many of us find ways to not make snoozing a priority. Well, Sleepless in America, a new documentary that premieres on the National Geographic Channel this Sunday, gives us plenty of reasons to rethink avoiding sleep.
It's estimated that about 40% of U.S. adults are sleep deprived. And, as the documentary clip shows, this can have disastrous consequences. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called sleep deprivation "an epidemic," partly due to the number of car crashes that occur every year as a result of insufficient sleep. The National Department of Transportation estimates that this is responsible for about 1,550 annual traffic fatalities.
To get a better night's sleep, there are a few common sleep hygiene tips to follow, such as waking up and going to bed at the same time every night. Also, avoid screens as much as possible before hitting the sack to help keep your body in nighttime mode. So, be sure to rest up this weekend — and stay away from those midnight work emails.