Today Began Last Night
Genesis 1:5 (NIV) “God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
This particular order, “evening, then morning—the first day” always had me a bit confused. Maybe God was just trying a creative literary approach, I thought. Well, after researching and writing on the subject of sleep’s architecture and benefits, I now see things God’s way: The day actually does begin the night before!
Sleep, as created by God, is not merely downtime—the space in between productivity—it’s a vital time of restoration, rejuvenation, and re-creation. It can literally make (or break) our upcoming day. Not convinced? Here is a small sample of “while you were asleep” processes:
- Replenishment of hormones
- Production of brain neurotransmitters
- Growth of new brain cells
- Repair and remodeling of nerves, bones, and muscles
- Boosting up of the immune system
- Consolidation of memories
That’s a lot of good stuff, hey?
So, just how much sleep should you aim for each night so all these goodies can be yours? That would be the same answer you’ve likely read for years: 7-8 hours—all in a row.
A large study conducted in a University in London, England demonstrated a significant decrease in longevity for those who regularly slept less than seven hours. If you fail to take advantage of 20% (or 1 ½ hours) of your God-designed sleep requirements, you will have a 20% shortage of the above listed benefits, and then some. Now that’s just the kind of motivation you and I need to remain faithful to our pillows!