Conquering Sleep

Yannick Morris

In this project about sleep quality, University of St. Thomas student Yannick Morris explores the importance of sleep quality — how the overall quality of sleep affects physical and mental health, and what we can do to improve the quality of our sleep.

We have all been tired to the point of forfeit before—fatigue, distress, brain fog, and even body aches come with that level of exhaustion. Sleep relieves that mental exhaustion, but  it also helps heal our bodies physically. Sleep is crucial in regenerating our body tissues and eliminating toxins and other bodily threats like viruses. Here, we will describe how sleep helps us heal our bodies both on a day-to-day basis and when we are sick.

Children’s brains grow more from birth to age 5 than they do for the rest of their lives. Think about that! Think about all of the developmental changes that go on in that short amount of time. From sitting up to walking, from babbling to talking, from merely looking at another baby to making friends.

Lots of people want to know how to feel happier and less anxious, especially in the midst of our stressful world. One of the most direct and important ways to influence our mood is by improving our sleep quality, and potentially, quantity, depending on how much you already sleep.

Have you noticed how you have not been as physically active or not sleeping as well this past year since the pandemic? While there can be a lot of reasons for both, you should know there is a direct relationship between exercise and sleep that may be at play.

Do you ever get the low-energy blahs? You know, when you don’t feel very motivated to try new things, to be creative, or to play? Or maybe you feel fidgety and find it hard to concentrate. Both feelings are symptoms of not getting enough good quality sleep. Simply put, it’s exhausting not getting the sleep you need.

While many now recognize sleep to be a key component of our overall health, what might be less obvious is how healthy sleep can make us smarter.

As flu season approaches and in the midst of this pandemic, it is important to remember that sleep is essential to staying healthy...