Counsel #11 — Running On Empty

Picture: Counsel #11 — Running On EmptyCWe 118.1

Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to a host of health problems, particularly when it’s consistent over time. Surprisingly, lack of sleep can age the brain by 3 to 5 years, increasing the risk of dementia and impairing short-term memory. The brain, like the rest of the body, needs rest to recover from the demands of the day. We rely on our brains constantly—to work, communicate, and make sense of the world around us.CWe 118.2

When we don’t get enough sleep after a long, taxing day, we become more forgetful and irritable, as the brain struggles to regulate behavior and emotions. Even simple tasks, like driving, can become dangerous due to poor concentration, delayed reaction times, or falling asleep at the wheel. Without proper rest, our bodies will eventually break down. God calls us to care for our bodies as temples of the Lord, and that includes being intentional about getting adequate sleep.^{[129]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqONk48l5vY}CWe 118.3

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24 NIVCWe 118.4

“Care needs to be exercised in regard to the regulation of hours for sleeping and laboring. We must take periods of rest, periods of recreation, periods for contemplation...The principles of temperance have a wider range than many think.” Ellen White in The Adventist Home, p. 494CWe 118.5

Reflect: What physical effects do you feel whenever you don’t get enough sleep at night? CWe 118.6