A balanced diet and good habits are important for optimal health. Fortunately, Saipan gets high marks on this count: Beer and canned meat provide a broad nutritional foundation, while cigarettes offer the relaxing satisfaction that helps manage stress.<\/p>\n
But we don\u2019t want to get too complacent about things, since, yes, even for us there\u2019s room for some improvement. So here\u2019s something from the experts that might be an easy sell: Get your sleep.<\/p>\n
Modern science has apparently awakened to the fact that plain ol\u2019 sleep is actually a critical component of health. I think I noted this topic last year, but it doesn\u2019t lack for press this year either, so it sure isn\u2019t going away.<\/p>\n
In fact, the warnings about sleep deprivation seem to be getting more dire; heck, it\u2019s enough to keep us awake at night.<\/p>\n
One big idea is that sleep unleashes the cleanup crew for the brain, which flushes out toxins so they can be tossed overboard. It\u2019s possible, so they say, that a lack of sleep can cause actual brain damage.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, some really nasty afflictions, such as cancer and heart disease, are said to be linked to a lack of sleep.<\/p>\n
Normal slobs like me will never understand all the fancy science, but all of us have to make our own decisions about this stuff anyway.<\/p>\n
As for me, all-nighters for work or travel never bothered me much. Maybe it\u2019s not healthy, but it\u2019s easier for me to face this stuff than the zombie-like regularity that is so common these days.<\/p>\n
In fact, like it or not, and healthy or not, being able to function with very little sleep is simply a demand for some professions. This isn\u2019t news to anyone who has served in the military and who associates that groggy, fog-minded \u201czero dark hundred\u201d feeling with their days in uniform.<\/p>\n
As for a longer-term nocturnal schedule, as opposed to the occasional all-nighter, my pals and I agree that the older we get, the more grinding those gigs are. These are hard miles to put on the odometer, especially when you\u2019re well beyond your warranty point.<\/p>\n
The paradox, however, is that of the most deeply unhappy people I\u2019ve seen, the vast majority had safe, comfortable, daytime jobs and routines.<\/p>\n
So, while modern life alleviates many a man from having to, say, stand watch on a ship\u2019s bridge at 3am in some lonely fold of the south Pacific, I\u2019m not convinced that modern life can fill the gap with anything better. There\u2019s no formal way to tally the balance, but at some point you have to sit in your beach chair and live in your memories.<\/p>\n
For those needing a bit of occasional help to shift into the sleep mode, I\u2019ll note that one popular method is to take a pill called Melatonin. This is a hormone the body produces to, among other things, regulate the sleep routine. The last time I looked it was easily found, over-the-counter, on Saipan. It\u2019s cheap. Note that I\u2019m saying it\u2019s popular, but I\u2019m not saying that you ought to take it, since that\u2019s sure not my call.<\/p>\n
If you get inspired to do some Web surfing about the topic, you\u2019ll see that Melatonin is pretty interesting stuff. It apparently plays a role even in plant life.
\nSpeaking of plant life, one thing I\u2019ve noticed over the years is that many people seem to prefer watching TV to getting enough sleep. I suppose the more recent twist on this is computers, smartphones, or whatever.<\/p>\n
Smartphones are proving to a great example of this effect. The draw of that electronic screen is so compelling that it can override even basic biological signals, such as (a) it\u2019s time to go to sleep, or (b) you\u2019re about to drive your car into an oncoming pickup truck.<\/p>\n
When I was young the very notion of sleep was an affront to my sense of efficiency. But now that I\u2019m older I reckon that efficiency is overrated, so the only affront I\u2019m dealing with is a cheeseburger that\u2019s sitting right affront of me now. And, after heeding this opportunity for good nutrition, I\u2019m going to take a nap. How\u2019s that for healthy?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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