Written by: Jillian Lau, Afrin, Felicia Lim & Putra Danial
One of our most basic needs is sleep. In modern society, however, sleep is no longer a priority. With terms like “Sleep is for the weak” trending among youths, it is obvious that we do not take rest seriously, often degrading it and boasting about how we deprive ourselves of it. Now, a basic need like sleep has been turned into a “luxury” instead of a necessity. Sleep has a myriad of effects on both our mental and physical health– so why do we not prioritise it?
The detrimental effects of the hustle culture
Hustle culture is a phenomenon that has gained popularity in recent years and refers to the belief that work is to be a person’s number one priority if they wish to get far in life. This often comes at the expense of sleep. While it has come under scrutiny from many healthcare and lifestyle professionals, hustle culture remains prevalent among young people today.
Radio and TV personality Jade Seah recounted in an interview with Stories & Co. that during her university days she would get between two and three hours of sleep a night because she was busy burning the midnight oil. This is, unfortunately, the reality for many Singaporeans. And while this is an extremely unhealthy practice, it is a sad reality that a whole generation views “success” more important than sleep. Hustle culture has left a whole generation sleep deprived and overworked; a recipe for disaster in regards to our mental well-being.
Sleep and mental well-being are very much correlated. A lack of sleep makes a person more emotional and less tolerant. Surprisingly, we can actually function fully with minimal amounts of sleep, before we crash entirely.
Recently, the subject of sleep has been gaining traction amidst a post pandemic world, with many Singaporeans reevaluating how sleep impacts their lives. For instance, since many people were unable to leave their house during the pandemic, the ties between sleep and mental health grew increasingly blur, when “work” transitioned from the office to our homes. Sleep and mental health are more related than one might think.
Sleep deprivation is known to affect our psychological and mental health; and those who suffer from mental health problems, are more susceptible to fall victim to insomnia or other sleeping disorders.
Celebrity Sheila Sim shared, “My mental and physical wellbeing suffers under the effects (of not getting enough sleep) as I lack the energy to carry out my daily tasks. Your body is constantly put in a stressed mode when there is a lack of sleep.”
A lack of sleep can also cause mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Lack of sleep increases cortisol, which can then increase anxiety as well. (Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues.)
When asked if her health and general wellbeing had changed as her sleep habits evolved, Sheila said, “(When I don’t sleep enough) I feel tired all the time. It affects my lifestyle. Instead of exercising or being active, I’d rather rest. It’s a downward spiral. By being less active, it definitely affects my health directly.”
While, pulling the occasional all-nighter will not adversely affect a person’s health in the near future–the problems start to arise when skimping on sleep becomes a habit. Numerous studies have analysed the relationship between a lack of sleep and a person’s susceptibility to illnesses. For example,a study found that people who get less than 7 hours of sleep a night are more prone to developing hyperthyroidism. However, nowadays getting 7 hours of sleep is a dream for many people. This goes to show how people unknowingly put their health at risk by forfeiting sleep.
Sleep is still a necessity to our well-being. However in recent years, it has become obvious that people no longer see it as that. Because of our hectic schedules, we have started to put work above sleep in the
It seems that we have been birthing a new hierarchy of needs by putting work above psychological needs like sleep. This is an incredibly unsustainable way of living. Sleep is a key ingredient in the recipe of a healthy life and we should not prioritise anything over it. By simply sleeping and resting a bit longer every night, we can save ourselves from a myriad of debilitating mental and physical health issues. Mediacorp’s new series: “Let’s Talk About Health”, covers the topic of sleep and just how crucial it is in our lives. The series guest stars celebrities and medical professionals who discuss health topics ranging from sleep down to nose picking. Catch “Let’s Talk About Health” on meWatch or YouTube to learn more about your own health.
