Snooze To Not Lose

Sleep is a biological necessity; and the growing issue of sleeplessness has opened up a huge market of possibilities in India

- SHUTAPA PAUL

Blissful sleep is a blessing. I remember my late father hitting the sack and dozing off in under 5 seconds. While, by comparison, my mother has perennially suffered from insomnia. Some folks can float off to la-la land anywhere, while others need the meticulously prepared circumstances for their slumber. Sleep is such an essential part of our being, and yet scores of people struggle with it every day — either from a lack of discipline or the inability to derive enough of it. Much of our bodily functions and long-term health is intrinsically dependent on sleep. It’s the time for our body and mind to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. Cells heal, the immune system gets fortified, hormones are controlled, the heart and brain perform better, and the entire body performs optimally. Extreme high achievers have famously stated that they routinely function on four hours of sleep. Not me though. If I don't get a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep, I'm grouchy the next day. Several studies and health and wellness experts opine the same. Sleep will play a monumental role towards a long, healthy, and active life. And yet that simple task of drifting into our dreams is no child’ play, emerging as a challenge for the vast majority of working India.

Nearly half the Indian population is currently battling some form of insomnia or sleep-related issues, with almost 60 per cent of us operating on less than six hours of sleep a day, making India the second-most sleep-deprived country in the world; Japan being the first.