Strange Sleeping Facts

Sleep is a huge part of everyone’s life. It’s something we all do. Sea otters will hold hands while sleeping, to avoid drifting away from each other. The average human will spend 229,961 hours of their lifetime sleeping. This is the equivalent to watching the average movie over 153,000 times. Some may call this wasted time, but sleep is incredibly important.

Sleep helps your brain work correctly. When you’re asleep, your brain will be preparing for the next day. Sleep also plays a role in your physical health, and is part of healing, such as your blood vessels. Without enough sleep, the results can include delayed reaction times, as well your ability to learn and get on with others being affected.

Did you know:

• The longest period ever recorded without sleep is 18 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes. Randy Gardnerm the record holder, reported blurred vision and memory loss?

• A new baby will result in up to 750 hours of a parent’s sleep loss in the first year?

• Before alarm clocks, there were “knocker-ups”. These went tapping on clients windows using long stick, until they woke up?

• It’s impossible to sneeze while sleeping?

• Sleeping on the job is acceptable in Japan, as this is seen as exhaustion from hard work?

Animals sleeping is interesting too. Did you know:

• Ducks at risk of attack are able to balance their sleep and survival mode, keeping one half of the brain awake, while the other slips into ‘sleep mode’?

• A snail can sleep for 3 years?

• Elephants will sleep standing during non-rem sleep, but will lie down for REM?

• Giraffes can go weeks without sleeping?

• One of the reasons bats sleep upside down is because they’re less obvious to prey this way?

• Cats sleep for 70% of their lives

• These facts show how sleep isn’t just a wooden bed, but can be a lot more interesting that you would think.