Did you know that...?

...even small light sources, for instance on an alarm clock or cell phone, can disrupt your sleep?

If possible, turn off all light sources or wear a sleep mask.

…about twelve percent of people dream only in black and white?

The theory is that growing up with a black-and-white television plays a role here. So... will our children dream in 4D?

…an active day gives you a peaceful night?

Exercise and activity during the day increase your oxygen uptake and improve stress reduction. Both can promote restorative sleep. If there’s no time to exercise, try to at least move around more during the day.

…lack of sleep leads to a condition similar to intoxication?

17 hours of sleep deprivation are said to correspond to a blood alcohol level of about 0.05 percent; 24 hours of sleep deprivation act like a blood alcohol level of .1 percent. The risk of traffic accidents and workplace accidents also rises.

...chronically sleepless people are about twice as likely to suffer from depression in the next five years?

Treating sleeplessness early on could, therefore, often prevent depression.

...nearly one-quarter of all fatal car accidents are a result of the infamous “microsleep”?

This is caused by too little sleep or a sleep deficit over several days or weeks, but also by driving during times when you are normally asleep.

....alcohol does make you tired, but it significantly worsens the quality of your sleep?

Drinking alcohol in the evening creates unrest during the second half of the night; it reduces the REM sleep phases and impairs breathing when taken in higher doses.

...a lack of sleep is a risk factor for excess weight gain?

According to one study, tiredness not only whets the appetite for unhealthy junk food and sweets, but also causes us to eat more overall. This is probably the result of disruptions in hormonal balance and in the metabolism.  

...good sleep makes you smart?

While we sleep, our brain stores new things it has learned, connects them to existing knowledge and even tries out creative new solutions. Success is closely linked with the length of your sleep.

...we wake up about 28 times, on average, every night?

But as a rule, we don’t notice it, because our brain does not register waking sequences shorter than 3 minutes.