The Confusion at Forty-Four: A Book for Women Turning 44

Author: Keren / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Sleep Can Cure Everything
As Shakespeare said, "Sleep can weave together the scattered threads of care." Prolonged sleep deprivation may lead us to feel as if we are about to lose our minds. On the other hand, after a quiet night's sleep and a significant degree of relaxation, we can spring out of bed and tackle the challenges of the world with ease. Although most of us need 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night, some people can manage with as little as 4 hours. Many energetic individuals do not require the same amount of rest as we do. However, everyone needs a certain amount of time to rest and recover from daily mental stress.
We are all governed by our physiological rhythm cycles, also known as our biological clocks, which tick away, setting the schedule for our lives. The term "physiological rhythm" comes from the Latin word "circa," meaning "around," and "dies," meaning "day" or "sunlight." Within the 24-hour cycle of nature, we adapt to darkness and light, working or playing during our preferred times. After completing our daily tasks, around dusk, our body temperature reaches its peak, while when we sleep, it drops to its lowest point around 3 or 4 a.m. A decline in energy typically occurs around 2 p.m. during the day, after a full morning's work and lunch.
In terms of biological clocks, all individuals are quite unique. Some of us are larks, able to wake up before the sun rises and immediately get into action; others are owls, only waking up after the sun has set. If a woman with a lark-like biological clock marries a man with an owl-like one, life will be difficult, and vice versa. This is because time synchronization is too important in relationships. If you are ready to go to bed, but your partner is heading out to a party, the tension between you may ultimately lead to an unhappy outcome.
Some women are sensitive to the decrease in light during seasonal changes. The dullness of winter can cause them to suffer from seasonal affective disorder or depression. The intensity of light and darkness has a strong impact on mood because the secretion rate of melatonin changes. People with insufficient melatonin may also lack sufficient vasopressin. Vasopressin is a neurotransmitter that helps maintain a positive mood. Therefore, we not only need enough rest but also need to rest at the right time. To reduce mental stress, we must strike a balance between our internal body rhythms and the obligations we have to the outside world. When your body and mind do not maintain enough interest to warrant spending energy, trying to stay up all night is pointless.
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