Did you know, you can live without food for several weeks, but only ten days without sleep? It’s true! Psalm 127:2 says: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves.” Life gets hectic - school, sports, work, studying, homework, friends - God says there’s a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1). You don’t have to “do it all,” just what God calls you to do. Rest and sleep are part of a balanced life.

God worked six days, resting on the seventh (Genesis 2:2-3). Jesus wasn’t running from town to town, stressed over healing everyone. He got His daily agenda from God the Father (Mt. 14:23). In Exodus 33:14, Moses asked the Lord who would accompany him into the Promised Land. God said: “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” Notice He didn’t promise energy or strength.

Teens need between 8-1/2 and 9-1/4 hours of sleep each night. It’s not about being moody, blowing a test, sleeping in class or missing that line drive. Sleepiness is a leading cause in at least 100,000 traffic accidents each year and young drivers are involved in more than half of them.

Several times every night your brain goes through the five stages of the sleep cycle. Your body and brain do things they can’t when you’re awake, like:

- release hormones that control physical growth and immunity-building chemicals;\r
- repair muscles and tissues;\r
- replace dead or aging cells; \r
- process what you learned that day and solidify it into your memory.

Sleep may be your secret weapon for better grades! A university study showed that students who stayed up two hours past their regular bedtime the night before a test, even if it was to study, scored lower than students who kept their regular bedtime. So study and then get some shut-eye!

OK, you get the picture. Sleep is vital to your health, safety and success. Jesus invited his disciples to get away from the crowds and rest (Mk. 6:31); He Himself was able to leave the day’s work behind and settle into a deep sleep even in the midst of a hurricane (Mt. 8:24). If falling asleep early enough to get eight or nine hours in seems impossible, you’re not crazy. There may be a biological reason. The timing mechanism in your brain that regulates every function of your body, called the circadian rhythm, seems to shift during adolescence telling some teens to fall asleep and wake up later.

Normal hormonal changes may cause this delay. Your habits may also play a role. Your brain may become more sensitive to changes in light. Light stimulates your brain and delays the release of melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep. Watching TV, playing video games, using the computer and even talking on a cell phone should be avoided. Here are a few other suggestions to help you get a great night’s sleep:

1. Avoid eating three hours before bed; late in the day limit caffeine and sugar.\r
2. Go to bed at approximately the same time each night;\r
3. Arrange your schedule so you have time to unwind and relax before going to bed. Bible reading, meditation, prayer, praise and worship, a warm, soothing bath are great ways to get into a restful mode;\r
4. Develop your time management skills so you complete assignments without pulling “all-niters;” \r
5. Make your bedroom a sleep haven:

• keep it dark, cool and quiet;\r
• be sure your mattress, pillows and blanket are comfortable;\r
• use a noise machine or run a fan to create soothing white noise; or \r
• listen to books on tape set on the lowest volume (instead of reading, which requires light), soothing music or the bible on CD or tape;

6. Don’t exercise too close to bedtime; and\r
7. Avoid potentially dangerous activities when you are sleepy, like driving.

Sleep is God’s gift. Try these suggestions to get the z-z-z’s you need.

• How to Stop Snoring With This One Minute Exercise
• The Best Insomnia Cures
• Learn How to Stop Snoring to Get Better Sleep Tonight
• Home Remedies For Insomnia - Long Term Solutions
• Transcept Pharmaceuticals Announces Expected FDA Extension Of Regulatory Review Period For Intermezzo(R)
• Melatrol Can Be a Decisive Remedy For Insomnia
• Gene Predicts How Brain Responds To Fatigue, Human Study Shows
• The Right Mattress to Enjoy Your Sleep
• Have You Tried These Successful Ways to Stop Snoring?
• How a Jaw Supporter Can Stop Your Snoring

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