It's Sleep Awareness Week, which comes after the switch to daylight saving time every year.
Its goal: Highlight the importance of a good night's sleep because without it, your mental and physical health suffer.
A poll by the National Sleep Foundation finds on average, Americans feel sleepy three days a week.
Many American say a lack of z's impacts their daily activities, mood and productivity.
The sleep study found when people feel sleepy, it is generally because they did not sleep well rather than not having enough time to sleep.
It also found when sleepy:
- About 2/3rds of people try to just shake it off
- 1/3rd get fresh air
- 1/3rd drink coffee or another caffeinated beverage
- 1/3rd try to nap
Those aren't replacements for sleep according to sleep specialist Dr. John White.
"If you could have one drug that could help you with memory, help you with your immune system, help your cardiovascular status and it was essentially free, you'd want to do that, wouldn't you? You'd want to take that medicine. it's available to you. You just have to make it a priority," White said.
Three ways to make sleep a priority include:
- Make and stick to a bedtime schedule
- Exercise in the evening
- Put the electronics to sleep an hour before you go to bed
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