Sleep can be an elusive dream for many — especially those living with a sleep disorder or if the demands of life and work keep you from getting the ideal amount of sleep you need.

Research shows sleep disruption — even for just one night — leads to a dangerous level of sleepiness that decreases your performance at school or on the job, but also places you at greater risk for accidents at work, at home, or while driving. Sleep loss makes us slower to respond to important information around us, less attentive, and disrupts mood and memory as well. For many, poor sleep is an ongoing issue. Research shows chronic short or disrupted sleep is associated with weight gain, obesity, development of diabetes, heart disease, and even depression. So, there’s good reason to make an effort to get the sleep you need each night.

If you are not able to get the sleep you need to feel rested and alert during the daytime, then you should ask your physician for a referral to a sleep specialist to be evaluated for a sleep disorder.

Unfortunately, there are many sleep stealers in our hectic modern lives. There are certain groups of people for whom good quality sleep is more difficult to achieve. One example is an adolescent who needs to wake up earlier than their internal biological clock would dictate in order to get to school on time. Or, older adults whose sleep is more fragmented and light. As well, there are many common sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy that disrupt sleep and lead to daytime sleepiness. In our 24/7 society, where there’s continual demand for products and services, many people are required to work shifts, making it difficult for them to sleep when desired and for an adequate amount of time.

While it’s important to get the sleep you need each night for safety, performance, and health, daytime naps can also be a great way for people to take a break and feel refreshed. An afternoon nap of 20 minutes is ideal to increase alertness, mood, and to improve work productivity. Longer naps are not recommended as they may disrupt nighttime sleep quality and lead to grogginess upon awakening which is not idea for the workplace or driving safety. Society should embrace the practice of daytime napping in schools and the workplace; many proactive workplaces now provide such napping environments.

If you are not able to get the sleep you need to feel rested and alert during the daytime, then you should ask your physician for a referral to a sleep specialist to be evaluated for a sleep disorder.