It was great to be back at The Pirates House on Friday where we were treated to a presentation by Tom Hollis about Sleep! Before Tom took the podium, President Conni Reynolds had Doris Williams come forward as Doris has completed all Red Badge requirements and is now a Blue Badge! Congratulations, Doris! After all Rotary business items were discussed and Happy dollars collected, Melanie Farrant introduced Tom.
Sleep is essential for our overall well-being, but most people think it is flexible. An average person will sleep 200,000 hours over their lifetime and as we age, the amount of sleep that is needed decreases. When we sleep, it allows our body to restock for the next day. Studies have shown that sleep is associated with better health outcomes for children. If you do take a nap during the day, Tom says that it should be for no more than an hour and ideally would be around 15-20 minutes.
Tom then talked about the 5 stages of sleep, sleep disorders, and medicine that can help with sleep. He gave us tips to achieve better sleep such as having physical activity during the day, turning off all screens an hour before bed, sleeping in a cool and dark room, and avoiding alcohol and large meals before bedtime. He encouraged everyone to create a calming bedtime routine.