Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I ST I N C T LY M O N TA N A • W I N T E R 2 0 1 8 52 All living organisms have an internal biological clock. For many mammals, this means that winter is a time for hibernation. Hibernating animals conserve energy throughout the winter, slow- ing their metabolism and even reducing their body temperature to minimize output. While humans do not hibernate, many of us go through periods of lower activity as the days get shorter and colder. Increased rest with reduced daylight hours is natural, although many of us still don't get enough of it. Our need to rest—and the tendency to not get enough of it— has been a popular topic in the past few years. In fact, the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was presented jointly to Jeffrey Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael Young for their studies on the human biological clock. eir work continues to unravel how our biological clock relates to the earth's rotations—i.e. changing seasons. When we get out of synch with the natural rhythms of our environment and the earth's rotations, our bodies can be thrown out of whack. Our biological clock wants to be adapting to changes in our daily environment, and this can mean needing more rest as the days get shorter. TYPE OF REST I: SLEEP Most adults require seven to nine hours of sleep per night, along with periods of rest during the day. Too much stress or stimulation during our waking hours can make us irritable, overworked, and cause us to underperform, all made worse with inadequate sleep. Much of the science of sleep remains elusive, but we do know that human bodies require sleep to grow muscle, repair tissue, and synthesize hormones. Sleep also helps solidify memories from the huge amount of information taken in throughout the day. is includes "scraps" of information being transferred from short-term memory to long-term memory, a process called consolidation (National Sleep Foundation). Having trouble getting enough sleep? You aren't the only one. In Ariana Huffington's 2016 book e Sleep Revolution, she discuss- es the myriad effects of sleep deprivation, which can include weight gain, diabetes, even an increase in instances of Alzheimer's. Huff- ington was inspired to write the book after a 2007 collapse follow- ing a sustained period of sleeping barely four hours per night. Her doctors informed her that sleep deprivation and her unmanageable schedule had caught up with her, so she worked to rehabilitate her sleep pattern to get at least the recommended amount per night. Like anyone making a lifestyle change, she began small… adding a half-hour to her sleep allotment, and removing electronics from her bedroom. Little by little she saw her mood, focus, and reactions improving. e quality of her life was enhanced immeasurably, leading her to write the bestselling book. Different apps and sleep trackers have been rising in popularity within the last few years, but the jury's out on whether or not they work. Fitness trackers and sleep apps aren't necessarily accurate, especially when it comes to differentiating between light sleep and deep sleep. Instead of relying on a device like a sleep tracker to gauge the duration and quality of your sleep, assess how you feel throughout the day and make changes from there. While you might be in bed/asleep for the recommended amount the importance of rest BY MAGGIE SLEPIAN G ETTING ENOUGH REST SHOULD BE THE MOST NATURAL THING IN THE WORLD, RIGHT? Not so much—at least in our fast-paced culture. We want to feel productive, make the most out of our days. In winter, this means less daylight to get things done. Something like getting adequate rest shouldn't be so complicated, yet many Americans are perpetually overworked, under-rested, and their health is suffering.

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