Proper Sleeping Leads to Greater Appreciation for Life

Sleeping 8 hours does put a spring in your step

American adults should get eight hours and 15 minutes of sleep every night, according to Dr. James Maas, a professor of psychology at Cornell University and author of “Power Sleep.” More sleep leads to better health — recent studies show the well-rested have lower obesity rates — and clearer skin and consistently interesting conversation.

You who get eight hours of sleep are the distance runners, the ones who won’t flame out in an epic, manic burst. That you take the time to sleep is a good sign — you probably can be counted on to sit down and savor your food, to drift along with a lazy chat, to listen, to read the fine print.

Those people who swear they only need four hours of sleep? They often wear as a badge of honor being busy busy busy. It’s a little sad, and very boring.

Getting eight full hours is not accomplishing less than your sleep-deprived peers, but acknowledging that sleeping is time well-spent.